Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming metal thin films, lanthanum oxide films and high dielectric films. Compositions of metal thin films, lanthanum oxide films and high dielectric films are also provided. Further provided are semiconductor devices comprising the metal thin films, lanthanum oxide films and high dielectric films provided herein.

Abstract: A multilayer electrode structure has a conductive layer including aluminum, an oxide layer formed on the conductive layer, and an oxygen diffusion barrier layer. The oxide layer includes zirconium oxide and/or titanium oxide. The oxygen diffusion barrier layer is formed at an interface between the conductive layer and the oxide layer by re-oxidizing the oxide layer. The oxygen diffusion barrier layer includes aluminum oxide.

Abstract: A capacitor may have a pre-treatment layer formed on a lower electrode, reaction to a dielectric layer and/or deterioration of capacitor characteristics may be suppressed. At least part of the dielectric layer may be oxidized or nitridized after being oxidized, and increases in leakage current may be suppressed. In a method of fabricating a capacitor, a plasma treatment performed before and after the forming of the dielectric layer within the batch-type equipment may cause retention time between the plasma treatment and the deposition of the dielectric layer to be the same or substantially the same for each wafer and/or capacitors may show smaller variations in layer characteristics between wafers.

Abstract: In a method of forming a layer and a method of manufacturing a capacitor using the same, a preliminary zirconium oxide film is formed on a substrate by introducing a first reactant including a zirconium precursor, and a first oxidant onto the substrate. A thermal treatment is performed on the preliminary zirconium oxide film to form a first zirconium oxide film having a dense and crystalline structure. An aluminum oxide film is formed on the first zirconium oxide film by introducing a second reactant including an aluminum precursor, and a second oxidant onto the substrate. The thermally-treated layer including the first zirconium oxide film and the aluminum oxide film may form a dielectric layer of a capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming a metal oxide layer and methods of forming a capacitor including the same. The methods of forming the metal oxide include forming a thin layer including a metal oxide, such as zirconium oxide, on a substrate and performing a post-treatment on the thin layer at a temperature at which oxygen present in the metal oxide is hindered from being diffused in the thin layer. Consequently, reduced amounts of byproducts are present on the boundary surface of the thin layer and the substrate thereby improving electrical characteristics of the thin layer.

Abstract: In a capacitor having a semiconductor-insulator-metal (SIM) structure, an upper electrode may be formed into a multilayer structure including a polycrystalline semiconductor Group IV material. A dielectric layer may include a metal oxide, and a lower electrode may include a metal-based material. Therefore, a capacitor may have a sufficiently small equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) and/or may have improved current leakage characteristics.

Abstract: In a method of forming a thin film and methods of manufacturing a gate structure and a capacitor, a hafnium precursor including one alkoxy group and three amino groups, and an oxidizing agent are provided on a substrate. The hafnium precursor is reacted with the oxidizing agent to form the thin film including hafnium oxide on the substrate. The hafnium precursor may be employed for forming a gate insulation layer of a transistor or a dielectric layer of a capacitor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming metal oxide dielectric layers, more particularly HfO2 dielectric layers, using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method in which a series of thin intermediate layers are formed and treated with one or more oxidizers and nitrogents before the next intermediate layer is formed on the substrate. The intermediate oxidation treatments reduce the number of organic contaminants incorporated into the metal oxide layer from the organometallic precursors to produce a dielectric layer having improved current leakage characteristics. The dielectric layers formed in this manner remain susceptible to crystallization if exposed to temperatures much above 550° C., so subsequent semiconductor manufacturing processes should be modified or eliminated to avoid such temperatures or limit the duration at such temperatures to maintain the performance of the dielectric materials.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a storage electrode of a capacitor in a semiconductor device is resistant to inadvertent etching during its manufacturing processes. A method of forming the storage electrode of the capacitor is described. The storage electrode of the capacitor may include a first metal layer electrically connected with a source region of a transistor through a contact plug penetrating an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon layer may then be formed on the first metal layer. A second metal layer is formed on the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: An etch stop layer is formed over a first structure by depositing a metal oxide material over the first structure and annealing the deposited metal oxide material. A second structure is formed over the etch stop layer, and a formation is etched through the second structure using the etch stop layer as an etch stop.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a multi-layer dielectric structure, such as a capacitor dielectric region, is formed by forming a first dielectric layer on a substrate according to a CVD process and forming a second dielectric layer directly on the first dielectric layer according to an ALD process. In further embodiments, a multi-layer dielectric structure is formed by forming a first dielectric layer on a substrate according to an ALD process and forming a second dielectric layer directly on the first dielectric layer according to a CVD process. The CVD-formed layers may comprise one selected from the group consisting of SiO2, Si3N3, Ta2O5, HfO2, ZrO2, TiO2, Y2O3, Pr2O3, La2O3, Nb2O5, SrTiO3 (STO), BaSrTiO3 (BST) and PbZrTiO3 (PZT). The ALD-formed layers may comprise one selected from the group consisting of SiO2, Si3N3, Al2O3, Ta2O5, HfO2, ZrO2, TiO2, Y2O3, Pr2O3, La2O3, Nb2O5, SrTiO3 (STO), BaSrTiO3 (BST) and PbZrTiO3 (PZT).

Abstract: In a method of forming a layer using an atomic layer deposition process, after a substrate is loaded into a chamber, a reactant is provided onto the substrate to form a preliminary layer. Atoms in the preliminary layer are partially removed from the preliminary layer using plasma formed from an inert gas such as an argon gas, a xenon gas or a krypton gas, or an inactive gas such as an oxygen gas, a nitrogen gas or a nitrous oxide gas to form a desired layer. Processes for forming the desired layer may be simplified. A highly integrated semiconductor device having improved reliability may be economically manufactured so that time and costs required for the manufacturing of the semiconductor device may be reduced.

Abstract: In a method of forming a layer using an atomic layer deposition process, after a substrate is loaded into a chamber, a first reactant is provided onto the substrate. The first reactant is partially chemisorbed on the substrate. A second reactant is introduced into the chamber to form a preliminary layer on the substrate by chemically reacting the second reactant with the chemisorbed first reactant. Impurities in the preliminary layer and unreacted reactants are simultaneously removed using a plasma for removing impurities to thereby form the layer on the substrate. The impurities in the layer may be effectively removed so that the layer may have reduced leakage current.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for forming the same. A dielectric layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate or on a lower electrode of a capacitor. Vacuum annealing is performed on the dielectric layer. Thus, impurities remaining in the dielectric layer can be effectively removed, and the dielectric layer can be densified. As a result, the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device are improved. For example, the leakage current characteristics of the dielectric layer are improved and capacitance is increased.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for forming the same. A dielectric layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate or on a lower electrode of a capacitor. Vacuum annealing is performed on the dielectric layer. Thus, impurities remaining in the dielectric layer can be effectively removed, and the dielectric layer can be densified. As a result, the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device are improved. For example, the leakage current characteristics of the dielectric layer are improved and capacitance is increased.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device that includes a composite Al2O3/HfO2 dielectric layer with a layer thickness ratio greater than or equal to 1, and a method of manufacturing the capacitor are provided. The capacitor includes a lower electrode, a composite dielectric layer including an Al2O3 dielectric layer and an HfO2 dielectric layer sequentially formed on the lower electrode, the Al2O3 dielectric layer having a thickness greater than or equal to the HfO2 dielectric layer, and an upper electrode formed on the composite dielectric layer. The Al2O3 dielectric layer has a thickness of 30-60 ?. The HfO2 dielectric layer has a thickness of 40 ? or less.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device that includes a composite Al2O3HfO2 dielectric layer with a layer thickness ratio greater than or equal to 1, and a method of manufacturing the capacitor are provided. The capacitor includes a lower electrode, a composite dielectric layer including an Al2O3 dielectric layer and an HfO2 dielectric layer sequentially formed on the lower electrode, the Al2O3 dielectric layer having a thickness greater than or equal to the HfO2 dielectric layer, and an upper electrode formed on the composite dielectric layer. The Al2O3 dielectric layer has a thickness of 30-60 ?. The HfO2 dielectric layer has a thickness of 40 ? or less.

Abstract: Methods of supplying a source to a reactor include charging a gaseous source into a charging volume by selectively activating a source charger coupled between the charging volume and a source reservoir. The gaseous source is then supplied from the charging volume into a deposition process reactor by selectively activating a source supplier coupled between the charging volume and the reactor after the gaseous source in the charging volume attains a desired internal pressure. Apparatus for supplying a source and methods and apparatus for depositing an atomic layer are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming metal oxide dielectric layers, more particularly HfO2 dielectric layers, using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method in which a series of thin intermediate layers are formed and treated with one or more oxidizers and nitrogents before the next intermediate layer is formed on the substrate. The intermediate oxidation treatments reduce the number of organic contaminants incorporated into the metal oxide layer from the organometallic precursors to produce a dielectric layer having improved current leakage characteristics. The dielectric layers formed in this manner remain susceptible to crystallization if exposed to temperatures much above 550° C., so subsequent semiconductor manufacturing processes should be modified or eliminated to avoid such temperatures or limit the duration at such temperatures to maintain the performance of the dielectric materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming metal thin films, lanthanum oxide films and high dielectric films. Compositions of metal thin films, lanthanum oxide films and high dielectric films are also provided. Further provided are semiconductor devices comprising the metal thin films, lanthanum oxide films and high dielectric films provided herein.