Abstract: A dielectric layer having atomic layer deposited zirconium aluminum oxide and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer may produce a reliable dielectric layer having an equivalent oxide thickness thinner than attainable using SiO2. The zirconium aluminum oxide may be formed in an atomic layer deposition process that includes pulsing a zirconium-containing precursor onto a substrate and pulsing an aluminum-containing precursor.

Abstract: The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanolaminate dielectric of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) and scandium oxide (Sc2O3) acting as a single dielectric layer with a formula of GdScO3, and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer, is described that produces a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k) for use in a variety of electronic devices. The dielectric structure is formed by depositing gadolinium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing scandium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. Such a dielectric may be used as gate insulator of a MOSFET, a capacitor dielectric in a DRAM, as tunnel gate insulators in flash memories, or as a NROM dielectric, because the high dielectric constant (high k) of the film provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film.

Abstract: A method for forming a transistor including a self aligned metal gate is provided. According to various method embodiments, a high-k gate dielectric is formed on a substrate and a sacrificial carbon gate is formed on the gate dielectric. Sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers are formed adjacent to the sacrificial carbon gate, and source/drain regions for the transistor are formed using the sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers to define the source/drain regions. The sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers are replaced with non-carbon sidewall spacers, and the sacrificial carbon gate is replaced with a desired metal gate material to provide the desired metal gate material on the gate dielectric. Various embodiments form source/drain extensions after removing the carbon sidewall spacers and before replacing with non-carbon sidewall spacers. An etch barrier is used in various embodiments to separate the sacrificial carbon gate from the sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers.

Abstract: A memory device is fabricated with a graded composition tunnel insulator layer. This layer is formed over a substrate with a drain and a source region. The tunnel insulator is comprised of a graded SiC—GeC—SiC composition. A charge blocking layer is formed over the tunnel insulator. A trapping layer of nano-crystals is formed in the charge blocking layer. In one embodiment, the charge blocking layer is comprised of germanium carbide and the nano-crystals are germanium. The thickness and/or composition of the tunnel insulator determines the functionality of the memory cell such as the volatility level and speed. A gate is formed over the charge blocking layer.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a cobalt titanium oxide film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The cobalt titanium oxide film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The cobalt titanium oxide film may be formed by atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a lanthanum aluminum oxynitride film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The lanthanum aluminum oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The lanthanum aluminum oxynitride film may be formed by atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a zirconium-doped gadolinium oxide film for use in a variety of electronic systems. The zirconium-doped gadolinium oxide film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The zirconium-doped gadolinium oxide film may be formed by atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: An apparatus provides a memory having a transmission line circuit with an associated high permeability material. The high permeability material may include a layered structure of a nickel iron compound.

Abstract: The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanolaminate dielectric of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), hafnium oxide (HfO2) and tin oxide (SnO2) acting as a single dielectric layer with a formula of ZrXHfYSn1-X-YO2, and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer is described that produces a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k). The dielectric structure is formed by depositing zirconium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing hafnium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing tin oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. Such a dielectric may be used as a gate insulator, a capacitor dielectric, or as a tunnel insulator in non-volatile memories, because the high dielectric constant (high k) provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film.

Abstract: A method for forming a transistor including a self aligned metal gate is provided. According to various method embodiments, a high-k gate dielectric is formed on a substrate and a sacrificial carbon gate is formed on the gate dielectric. Sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers are formed adjacent to the sacrificial carbon gate, and source/drain regions for the transistor are formed using the sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers to define the source/drain regions. The sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers are replaced with non-carbon sidewall spacers, and the sacrificial carbon gate is replaced with a desired metal gate material to provide the desired metal gate material on the gate dielectric. Various embodiments form source/drain extensions after removing the carbon sidewall spacers and before replacing with non-carbon sidewall spacers. An etch barrier is used in various embodiments to separate the sacrificial carbon gate from the sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers.

Abstract: A composite dielectric forming method includes atomic layer depositing alternate layers of hafnium oxide and lanthanum oxide over a substrate. The hafnium oxide can be thermally stable, crystalline hafnium oxide and the lanthanum oxide can be thermally stable, crystalline lanthanum oxide. A transistor may comprise the composite dielectric as a gate dielectric. A capacitor may comprise the composite dielectric as a capacitor dielectric.

Abstract: Dielectric layers containing a lanthanum hafnium oxide layer, where the lanthanum hafnium oxide layer is arranged as a structure of one or more monolayers, provide an insulating layer in a variety of structures for use in a wide range of electronic devices.

Abstract: An electronic system includes apparatus having a transmission line circuit with an associated high permeability material. The high permeability material may include a layered structure of a nickel iron compound.

Abstract: The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanolaminate layered dielectric layer of cerium oxide and aluminum oxide acting as a single dielectric layer with a ratio of approximately two to one between the cerium oxide and the aluminum oxide, and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer is described. The described arrangement produces a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high-k) for use in a variety of electronic devices. The dielectric structure is formed by depositing cerium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing aluminum oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of a magnesium titanium oxide structure on a substrate provide a dielectric for use in a variety of electronic devices. Embodiments of methods of fabricating such a dielectric include forming the magnesium titanium oxide structure by atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for forming a transistor. According to various method embodiments, a gate dielectric is formed on a substrate, a substitutable structure is formed on the gate dielectric, and source/drain regions for the transistor are formed. A desired gate material is substituted for the substitutable structure to provide the desired gate material on the gate dielectric. Some embodiments use carbon for the substitutable material, and some embodiments use silicon, germanium or silicon-germanium for the substitutable material. Some embodiments form a high-k gate dielectric, such as may be formed by an atomic layer deposition process, an evaporated deposition process, and a metal oxidation process. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: A method for forming a transistor including a self aligned metal gate is provided. According to various method embodiments, a high-k gate dielectric is formed on a substrate and a sacrificial carbon gate is formed on the gate dielectric. Sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers are formed adjacent to the sacrificial carbon gate, and source/drain regions for the transistor are formed using the sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers to define the source/drain regions. The sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers are replaced with non-carbon sidewall spacers, and the sacrificial carbon gate is replaced with a desired metal gate material to provide the desired metal gate material on the gate dielectric. Various embodiments form source/drain extensions after removing the carbon sidewall spacers and before replacing with non-carbon sidewall spacers. An etch barrier is used in various embodiments to separate the sacrificial carbon gate from the sacrificial carbon sidewall spacers.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for forming an integrated circuit. According to various embodiments of the method, a plurality of transistors is formed. For each transistor, a gate dielectric is formed on a substrate, a substitutable structure is formed on the gate dielectric, and source/drain regions for the transistor are formed. At least two substitution processes are performed. Each substitution process includes substituting a desired gate material for the substitutable structure. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to an integrated circuit structure. An integrated circuit structure embodiment includes a substrate, a gate dielectric over the substrate, a carbon structure having a predetermined thickness in contact with and over the gate dielectric, and a layer of desired gate material for a transistor in contact with and over the carbon structure. The layer of desired gate material includes a predetermined thickness corresponding to the predetermined thickness of the carbon structure to support a metal substitution process to replace the carbon structure with the desired gate material. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: Doped aluminum oxide layers having a porous aluminum oxide layer and methods of their fabrication. The porous aluminum oxide layer may be formed by evaporation physical vapor deposition techniques to facilitate formation of a high-purity aluminum oxide layer. A dopant material is embedded in the pores of the porous aluminum oxide layer and subsequently converted to a dielectric form. The degree of porosity of the porous aluminum oxide layer may be controlled during formation to facilitate control of the level of doping of the doped aluminum oxide layer. Such doped aluminum oxide layers are useful as gate dielectric layers, intergate dielectric layers and capacitor dielectric layers in various integrated circuit devices.