Abstract: A method and apparatus estimating a state of a battery are provided. A battery life estimation apparatus may charge a battery using a normal charge rate (C-rate) during a charging interval of a charging cycle and a low charge rate (C-rate) in a low-rate charging interval of the charging cycle, may compare a determined change in an electrical physical quantity of the battery over time to a reference curve, corresponding to a life of the battery, for an initial state of the battery, in the low-rate charging interval, and may estimate the life of the battery based on a result of the comparing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus estimating a state of a battery are provided. A battery life estimation apparatus may charge a battery using a normal charge rate (C-rate) during a charging interval of a charging cycle and a low charge rate (C-rate) in a low-rate charging interval of the charging cycle, may compare a determined change in an electrical physical quantity of the battery over time to a reference curve, corresponding to a life of the battery, for an initial state of the battery, in the low-rate charging interval, and may estimate the life of the battery based on a result of the comparing.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes forming an isolation trench in a semiconductor substrate, and the isolation trench defines first and second fins. The method further includes forming an isolation layer partially filling the isolation trench, forming first and second charge trap patterns respectively covering parts of the first and second fins projecting from the isolation layer, and forming a control gate electrode covering the first and second charge trap patterns and crossing the first and second fins.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a capacitor having a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, a top electrode formed on the dielectric layer, and a contact plug having a metal that is connected with the top electrode, wherein the top electrode includes a doped poly-Si1-xGex layer and a doped polysilicon layer epitaxially deposited on the doped poly-Si1-xGex layer and the contact plug makes a contact with the doped polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device prevents charge spreading. The non-volatile memory device includes an isolation trench in a semiconductor substrate, an isolation layer partially filling the isolation trench between first and second fins defined by the isolation trench, a control gate electrode crossing the first and second fins, a first charge trap pattern between the first fin and the control gate electrode, and a second charge trap pattern between the second fin and the control gate electrode.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a charge-trapping dielectric and a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS)-type non-volatile semiconductor device includes forming the charge-trapping dielectric, and a first oxide layer including silicon oxide. A silicon nitride layer including silicon-rich nitride is formed by a cyclic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process using a silicon source material and a nitrogen source gas. A second oxide layer is formed on the silicon nitride layer. Hence, the charge-trapping dielectric having good erase characteristics is formed. In the SONOS-type non-volatile semiconductor device including the charge-trapping dielectric, a data erase process may be stably performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides nitrogenous compositions for forming a silicon nitride layer, wherein the nitrogenous composition comprises a hydrazine compound, an amine compound or a mixture thereof. The present invention further provides source compositions for forming a silicon nitride layer, wherein the source composition comprises a nitrogenous composition comprising a hydrazine compound, an amine compound or a mixture thereof, and a silicon source comprising hexachlorodisilane. Methods for forming silicon nitride layers are further provided. The silicon nitride layers provided herein may be formed on a substrate at a low temperature and may further exhibit improved breakdown voltage and an enhanced etch resistance.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device prevents charge spreading. The non-volatile memory device includes an isolation trench in a semiconductor substrate, an isolation layer partially filling the isolation trench between first and second fins defined by the isolation trench, a control gate electrode crossing the first and second fins, a first charge trap pattern between the first fin and the control gate electrode, and a second charge trap pattern between the second fin and the control gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a tunnel insulating layer, charge trap layer, and a blocking layer. The tunnel insulating layer is on the semiconductor substrate. The charge trap layer is on the tunnel insulating layer and includes at least one pair of a first nitride layer with a higher trap density of holes than electrons and a second nitride layer with a higher trap density of electrons than holes. The blocking layer is on the charge trap layer opposite to the tunnel insulating layer. The first nitride layer may include silicon rich nitride, which may have a ratio of silicon to nitride of greater than 1 and less than or equal to 2. The second nitride layer may include aluminum nitride which may have a hexagonal crystalline structure.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a charge-trapping dielectric and a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS)-type non-volatile semiconductor device includes forming the charge-trapping dielectric, and a first oxide layer including silicon oxide. A silicon nitride layer including silicon-rich nitride is formed by a cyclic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process using a silicon source material and a nitrogen source gas. A second oxide layer is formed on the silicon nitride layer. Hence, the charge-trapping dielectric having good erase characteristics is formed. In the SONOS-type non-volatile semiconductor device including the charge-trapping dielectric, a data erase process may be stably performed.

Abstract: A gate structure adapted for use in a SONOS device unit cell is disclosed. The gate structure comprises a charge trap insulator and a single electrode. The charge trap insulator comprises a multilayer structure comprising a first silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, and a second silicon oxide layer. The single electrode is formed on the charge trap insulator, comprises a P-type impurity receptive semiconductor material, and is doped with P-type impurities.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a capacitor having a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, a top electrode formed on the dielectric layer, and a contact plug having a metal that is connected with the top electrode, wherein the top electrode includes a doped poly-Si1-xGex layer and a doped polysilicon layer epitaxially deposited on the doped poly-Si1-xGex layer and the contact plug makes a contact with the doped polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a low-k dielectric layer for a semiconductor device using an ALD process including (a) forming predetermined interconnection patterns on a semiconductor substrate, (b) supplying a first and a second reactive material to a chamber having the substrate therein, thereby adsorbing the first and second reactive materials on a surface of the substrate, (c) supplying a first gas to the chamber to purge the first and second reactive materials that remain unreacted, (d) supplying a third reactive material to the chamber, thereby causing a reaction between the first and second materials and the third reactive material to form a monolayer, (e) supplying a second gas to the chamber to purge the third reactive material that remains unreacted in the chamber and a byproduct; and (f) repeating (b) through (e) a predetermined number of times to form a SiBN ternary layer having a predetermined thickness on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides nitrogenous compositions for forming a silicon nitride layer, wherein the nitrogenous composition comprises a hydrazine compound, an amine compound or a mixture thereof. The present invention further provides source compositions for forming a silicon nitride layer, wherein the source composition comprises a nitrogenous composition comprising a hydrazine compound, an amine compound or a mixture thereof, and a silicon source comprising hexachlorodisilane. Methods for forming silicon nitride layers are further provided. The silicon nitride layers provided herein may be formed on a substrate at a low temperature and may further exhibit improved breakdown voltage and an enhanced etch resistance.

Abstract: A method for forming a low-k dielectric layer for a semiconductor device using an ALD process including (a) forming predetermined interconnection patterns on a semiconductor substrate, (b) supplying a first and a second reactive material to a chamber having the substrate therein, thereby adsorbing the first and second reactive materials on a surface of the substrate, (c) supplying a first gas to the chamber to purge the first and second reactive materials that remain unreacted, (d) supplying a third reactive material to the chamber, thereby causing a reaction between the first and second materials and the third reactive material to form a monolayer, (e) supplying a second gas to the chamber to purge the third reactive material that remains unreacted in the chamber and a byproduct; and (f) repeating (b) through (e) a predetermined number of times to form a SiBN ternary layer having a predetermined thickness on the substrate.