Abstract: A method of forming a buried gate electrode prevents voids from being formed in a silicide layer of the gate electrode. The method begins by forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a conformal gate oxide layer on the semiconductor in which the trench has been formed, forming a first gate electrode layer on the gate oxide layer, forming a silicon layer on the first gate electrode layer to fill the trench. Then, a portion of the first gate electrode layer is removed to form a recess which exposed a portion of a lateral surface of the silicon layer. A metal layer is then formed on the semiconductor substrate including on the silicon layer. Next, the semiconductor substrate is annealed while the lateral surface of the silicon layer is exposed to form a metal silicide layer on the silicon layer.

Abstract: A method of forming through silicon vias (TSVs) includes forming a primary via hole in a semiconductor substrate, depositing low-k dielectric material in the primary via hole, forming a secondary via hole by etching the low-k dielectric in the primary via hole, in such a manner that a via insulating layer and an inter metal dielectric layer of the low-k dielectric layer are simultaneously formed. The via insulating layer is formed of the low-k dielectric material on sidewalls and a bottom surface of the substrate which delimit the primary via hole and the inter metal dielectric layer is formed on an upper surface of the substrate. Then a metal layer is formed on the substrate including in the secondary via hole, and the metal layer is selectively removed from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a method of forming a hardened porous dielectric layer. The method may include forming a dielectric layer containing porogens on a substrate, transforming the dielectric layer into a porous dielectric layer using a first UV curing process to remove the porogens from the dielectric layer, and transforming the porous dielectric layer into a crosslinked porous dielectric layer using a second UV curing process to generate crosslinks in the porous dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a kit for diagnosis of semen quality (motility and concentration) through observation of color change visible with the naked eye in a solution combining methylene blue and sperm. The invention comprises a method for semen diagnosis using color coding (with a standard color table) charting the various colors the semen may change into, and a diagnostic it for testing semen using said method. When combined with methylene blue, healthier and more active sperm fades the original blue color more rapidly due to respiration activity by the sperm, which allows for semen quality evaluation. The above principle are adapted to kit from inside a tube which encases a methylene blue solution into which sample semen is introduced for easy evaluation.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced-apart conductor structures is formed on a semiconductor substrate, each of the conductor structures including a conductive layer. Insulating spacers are formed on sidewalls of the conductor structures. An interlayer-insulating film that fills gaps between adjacent ones of the insulating spacers is formed. Portions of the interlayer-insulating layer are removed to expose upper surfaces of the conductive layers. Respective epilayers are grown on the respective exposed upper surfaces of the conductive layers and respective metal silicide layers are formed from the respective epilayers.

Abstract: In an ohmic layer and methods of forming the ohmic layer, a gate structure including the ohmic layer and a metal wiring having the ohmic layer, the ohmic layer is formed using tungsten silicide that includes tungsten and silicon with an atomic ratio within a range of about 1:5 to about 1:15. The tungsten silicide may be obtained in a chamber using a reaction gas including a tungsten source gas and a silicon source gas by a partial pressure ratio within a range of about 1.0:25.0 to about 1.0:160.0. The reaction gas may have a partial pressure within a range of about 2.05 percent to about 30.0 percent of a total internal pressure of the chamber. When the ohmic layer is employed for a conductive structure, such as a gate structure or a metal wiring, the conductive structure may have a reduced resistance.

Abstract: A method of forming a buried gate electrode prevents voids from being formed in a silicide layer of the gate electrode. The method begins by forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a conformal gate oxide layer on the semiconductor in which the trench has been formed, forming a first gate electrode layer on the gate oxide layer, forming a silicon layer on the first gate electrode layer to fill the trench. Then, a portion of the first gate electrode layer is removed to form a recess which exposed a portion of a lateral surface of the silicon layer. A metal layer is then formed on the semiconductor substrate including on the silicon layer. Next, the semiconductor substrate is annealed while the lateral surface of the silicon layer is exposed to form a metal silicide layer on the silicon layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a trench for forming buried type wires by etching a substrate; forming first and second oxidation layers on a bottom of the trench and a wall of the trench, respectively; removing a part of the first oxidation layer and the entire second oxidation layer; and forming the buried type wires on the wall of the trench by performing a silicide process on the wall of the trench from which the second oxidation layer is removed. As a result, the buried type wires are insulated from each other.

Abstract: In an ohmic layer and methods of forming the ohmic layer, a gate structure including the ohmic layer and a metal wiring having the ohmic layer, the ohmic layer is formed using tungsten silicide that includes tungsten and silicon with an atomic ratio within a range of about 1:5 to about 1:15. The tungsten silicide may be obtained in a chamber using a reaction gas including a tungsten source gas and a silicon source gas by a partial pressure ratio within a range of about 1.0:25.0 to about 1.0:160.0. The reaction gas may have a partial pressure within a range of about 2.05 percent to about 30.0 percent of a total internal pressure of the chamber. When the ohmic layer is employed for a conductive structure, such as a gate structure or a metal wiring, the conductive structure may have a reduced resistance.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device, e.g., a charge trapping type non-volatile memory device, may include a charge trapping structure formed in a first area of a substrate and a gate structure formed in a second area of the substrate. The charge trapping structure may include a tunnel oxide layer pattern, a charge trapping layer pattern and a dielectric layer pattern of aluminum-containing tertiary metal oxide. The gate structure may include a gate oxide layer pattern, a polysilicon layer pattern and an ohmic layer pattern of aluminum-containing tertiary metal silicide. A first electrode and a second electrode may be formed on the charge trapping structure. A lower electrode and an upper electrode may be provided on the gate structure. The dielectric layer pattern may have a higher dielectric constant, and the ohmic layer pattern may have improved thermal stability, thereby enhancing programming and erasing operations of the charge trapping type non-volatile memory device.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced-apart conductor structures is formed on a semiconductor substrate, each of the conductor structures including a conductive layer. Insulating spacers are formed on sidewalls of the conductor structures. An interlayer-insulating film that fills gaps between adjacent ones of the insulating spacers is formed. Portions of the interlayer-insulating layer are removed to expose upper surfaces of the conductive layers. Respective epilayers are grown on the respective exposed upper surfaces of the conductive layers and respective metal silicide layers are formed from the respective epilayers.

Abstract: In an ohmic layer and methods of forming the ohmic layer, a gate structure including the ohmic layer and a metal wiring having the ohmic layer, the ohmic layer is formed using tungsten silicide that includes tungsten and silicon with an atomic ratio within a range of about 1:5 to about 1:15. The tungsten silicide may be obtained in a chamber using a reaction gas including a tungsten source gas and a silicon source gas by a partial pressure ratio within a range of about 1.0:25.0 to about 1.0:160.0. The reaction gas may have a partial pressure within a range of about 2.05 percent to about 30.0 percent of a total internal pressure of the chamber. When the ohmic layer is employed for a conductive structure, such as a gate structure or a metal wiring, the conductive structure may have a reduced resistance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include semiconductor devices that can be made with relatively low resistance, and methods of forming the semiconductor devices. A resistance reducing layer is formed between a polysilicon layer and a metal layer. As a result, an interface resistance between the polysilicon layer and the metal layer is greatly reduced and a distribution of the interface resistance is very uniform. As a result, a conductive structure including the resistance reducing layer has a greatly reduced sheet resistance to improve electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device having the conductive structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a doped conductive layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. A diffusion barrier layer is formed over the doped conductive layer. The diffusion barrier layer may be formed from an amorphous semiconductor material. An ohmic contact layer is formed over the diffusion barrier layer. A metal barrier layer is formed over the ohmic contact layer. A metal layer is formed over the metal barrier layer.

Abstract: In a method of forming a semiconductor device, and a semiconductor device formed according to the method, an insulating layer is provided on an underlying contact region of the semiconductor device. An opening is formed in the insulating layer to expose the underlying contact region. A seed layer is provided on sidewalls and a bottom of the opening, the seed layer comprising cobalt. A barrier layer of conductive material is provided in a lower portion of the opening, the seed layer being exposed on sidewalls of an upper portion of the opening. A metal layer is provided on the barrier layer in the opening to form an interlayer contact, the metal layer contacting the seed layer at the sidewalls of the upper portion of the opening.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate and a doped conductive layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. A diffusion barrier layer is formed over the doped conductive layer. The diffusion barrier layer comprises an amorphous semiconductor material. After forming the diffusion barrier layer, a heat treatment process may be additionally performed thereon. An ohmic contact layer is formed over the diffusion barrier layer. A metal barrier layer is formed over the ohmic contact layer. A metal layer is formed over the metal barrier layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate electrode of a semiconductor device according to example embodiments that may include forming a polysilicon film on a semiconductor substrate. An interface control layer may be formed on the polysilicon film by repeating a unit cycle a plurality of times. The unit cycle may include forming an interface metal film and nitriding an upper surface portion of the interface metal film to form an interface metal nitride film on an upper surface portion of the interface metal film. A wiring metal film may be formed on the interface control layer.

Abstract: A gate of a memory device may include a charge trapping structure having a tunnel oxide layer, a charge storing layer, and a blocking layer on a semiconductor substrate; a conductive pattern on the charge trapping structure, the conductive pattern including metal nitride; an ohmic film on the conductive pattern; and a gate electrode on the ohmic film.

Abstract: In a method for forming a gate in a semiconductor device, a first preliminary gate structure is formed on a substrate. The first preliminary gate structure includes a gate oxide layer, a polysilicon layer pattern and a tungsten layer pattern sequentially stacked on the substrate. A primary oxidation process is performed using oxygen radicals at a first temperature for adjusting a thickness of the gate oxide layer to form a second preliminary gate structure having tungsten oxide. The tungsten oxide is reduced to a tungsten material using a gas containing hydrogen to form a gate structure. The tungsten oxide may not be formed on the gate structure so that generation of the whiskers may be suppressed. Thus, a short between adjacent wirings may not be generated.

Abstract: A flash memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating layer having a first width formed on the semiconductor substrate to trap carriers tunneled from the semiconductor substrate and a metal electrode on the gate insulating layer to receive a voltage required for tunneling. The metal electrode having a second width smaller than the first width. The flash memory device further includes a sidewall spacer surrounding a side surface of the metal electrode to prevent oxidation of the metal electrode.