Abstract: A capacitor may include a first electrode, a second electrode, a low dielectric layer, and/or a high dielectric layer. The first electrode may include at least one first electrode branch. The second electrode may face the first electrode and include at least one second electrode branch. The low dielectric layer may be formed between the first electrode branch and the second electrode branch. The high dielectric layer may be formed between the first electrode branch and the second electrode branch. The high dielectric layer may have a higher dielectric constant than the low dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a MIM capacitor that has a high capacitance that can be manufactured without the problems that affected the prior art. Such a capacitor includes an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and a dielectric layer that is intermediate the upper and the lower electrodes. A first voltage can be applied to the upper electrode and a second voltage, which is different from the first voltage, can be applied to the lower electrode. A wire layer, through which the first voltage is applied to the upper electrode, is located in the same level as or in a lower level than the lower electrode.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include an integrated circuit substrate and a conductive lower electrode layer of a capacitor on the integrated circuit substrate. A dielectric layer is on the lower electrode layer and a conductive upper electrode layer of the capacitor is on the dielectric layer. A first intermetal dielectric layer is on the upper electrode layer. The first intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the upper electrode layer. A first conductive interconnection layer is on the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer. A second intermetal dielectric layer is on the first intermetal dielectric layer. The second intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the first conductive interconnection layer and at least partially exposing the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a MIM capacitor having a high capacitance with improved manufacturability. Such a capacitor includes an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and a dielectric layer that is intermediate the upper and the lower electrodes. A first voltage can be applied to the upper electrode and a second voltage, which is different from the first voltage, can be applied to the lower electrode. A wire layer, through which the first voltage is applied to the upper electrode, is located in the same level as or in a lower level than the lower electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a MIM capacitor and a interconnecting structure using a damascene process. The MIM capacitor and the first interconnecting structure can be formed at equal depths.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include an integrated circuit substrate and a conductive lower electrode layer of a capacitor on the integrated circuit substrate. A dielectric layer is on the lower electrode layer and a conductive upper electrode layer of the capacitor is on the dielectric layer. A first intermetal dielectric layer is on the upper electrode layer. The first intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the upper electrode layer. A first conductive interconnection layer is on the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer. A second intermetal dielectric layer is on the first intermetal dielectric layer. The second intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the first conductive interconnection layer and at least partially exposing the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer.

Abstract: In a method of forming an insulating structure, an insulating interlayer is formed on a substrate using a silicon source gas and a reaction gas. A capping layer is formed in-situ on the insulating interlayer by increasing a flow rate of an oxidizing gas included in the reaction gas so that the capping layer has a second thickness when the insulating interlayer is formed on the substrate to have a first thickness. The insulating structure dose not have an interface between the insulating interlayer and the capping layer so that the insulating interlayer is not subject to damage by a cleaning solution during a subsequent cleaning process, since the cleaning solution maynot permeate into the insulating structure. Additionally, leakage current is mitigated or eliminated between the insulating interlayer and the capping layer, thereby improving the reliability of a semiconductor device including the insulating structure.

Abstract: A method of forming metal wiring in a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method uses a dual damascene process in which a trench is formed prior to a via-hole.

Abstract: Integrated circuit memory devices include an integrated circuit substrate and a plurality of lower wiring lines on the substrate and extending in a first direction. An interlayer insulating layer is on the plurality of lower wiring lines. An upper damascene wiring line is in an upper portion of the interlayer insulating layer and extending in a second direction, different from the first direction, to extend over the plurality of lower wiring lines. The upper damascene wiring line has protruded regions extending therefrom in a direction different from the second direction, the protruded regions extending over respective underlying ones of the lower wiring lines. A first via extends through the interlayer insulating layer under a first of the protruded regions and connects the upper damascene wiring line to a corresponding underlying first one of the plurality of wiring lines.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for carrying out a damascene process in semiconductor fabrication including the steps of: forming an intermetal dielectric film on a semiconductor substrate; patterning the intermetal dielectric film and forming an intermetal dielectric pattern comprising at least two layers of different chemical compositions that includes at least an opening penetrating the intermetal dielectric film; forming a conductive film to fill the opening on the intermetal dielectric pattern; and etching the conductive film by means of a chemical/mechanical polishing operation until exposing an upper face of the intermetal dielectric pattern and the top of the filled opening so as to form a conductive pattern. An etching process is then performed to selectively remove an upper portion of the intermetal dielectric pattern.

Abstract: There are provided metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and methods of forming the same. The capacitors and the formation methods thereof provide a way of simplifying semiconductor fabrication processes, using component elements of the capacitor and insulating layers around the capacitor. To this end, lower and upper electrodes are sequentially stacked on a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer pattern is interposed between the upper and lower electrodes. An etch stop layer pattern and an etch buffer layer are disposed on the upper electrode and under the lower electrode, respectively. The upper and lower electrodes are disposed to expose the dielectric layer pattern and the etch buffer layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a first region, in which a capacitance component is a dominant cause of a RC delay, and a second region, in which a resistance component is a dominant cause of a RC delay. The method comprises performing a first etching process to an insulating layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, so that a first trench having a first thickness and a second trench having the first thickness are formed in the first region and the second region, respectively; performing a second etching process to the second trench, so that a third trench having a second thickness thicker than the first thickness is formed in the second region; filling the first trench and the third trench with a metal layer; and removing portions of the metal layer, so that a first metal interconnection and a second metal interconnection are formed inside of the first trench and the third trench, respectively.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include an integrated circuit substrate and a conductive lower electrode layer of a capacitor on the integrated circuit substrate. A dielectric layer is on the lower electrode layer and a conductive upper electrode layer of the capacitor is on the dielectric layer. A first intermetal dielectric layer is on the upper electrode layer. The first intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the upper electrode layer. A first conductive interconnection layer is on the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer. A second intermetal dielectric layer is on the first intermetal dielectric layer. The second intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the first conductive interconnection layer and at least partially exposing the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer.

Abstract: A metal interconnection structure includes a lower metal interconnection layer disposed in a first inter-layer dielectric layer. An inter-metal dielectric layer having a via contact hole that exposes a portion of surface of the lower metal layer pattern is disposed on the first inter-layer dielectric layer and the lower metal layer pattern. A second inter-layer dielectric layer having a trench that exposes the via contact hole is formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer. A barrier metal layer is formed on a vertical surface of the via contact and the exposed surface of the second lower metal interconnection layer pattern. A first upper metal interconnection layer pattern is disposed on the barrier metal layer, thereby filling the via contact hole and a portion of the trench. A void diffusion barrier layer is disposed on the first metal interconnection layer pattern and a second upper metal interconnection layer pattern is disposed on the void diffusion barrier layer to completely fill the trench.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include an integrated circuit substrate and a conductive lower electrode layer of a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor on the integrated circuit substrate. A dielectric layer is on the lower electrode layer and a conductive upper electrode layer of the MIM capacitor is on the dielectric layer. A first intermetal dielectric layer is on the upper electrode layer. The first intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the upper electrode layer. A first conductive interconnection layer is on the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer. A second intermetal dielectric layer is on the first intermetal dielectric layer. The second intermetal dielectric layer includes at least one via hole extending to the first conductive interconnection layer and at least partially exposing the at least one via hole of the first intermetal dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming metal wiring in a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method uses a dual damascene process in which a trench is formed prior to a via-hole.

Abstract: A method of forming a dual damascene interconnection employs a low-k dielectric organic polymer as an insulating layer. With only one hard mask layer, ashing damage to the insulating layer is prevented using a hard mask layer and an etch-stop layer that are different in etch rate from that of a self-aligned spacer. Further, it is possible to form a via hole that is smaller than the resolution limit of the photolithographic process. As a result, the process is simplified and a photoresist tail phenomenon does not occur.

Abstract: A bonding pad in a semiconductor device can include a conductive plug pattern on a conductive layer, where the conductive layer includes a conductive material and a dummy pattern surrounded by the conductive material. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A metal interconnection structure includes a lower metal interconnection layer disposed in a first inter-layer dielectric layer. An inter-metal dielectric layer having a via contact hole that exposes a portion of surface of the lower metal layer pattern is disposed on the first inter-layer dielectric layer and the lower metal layer pattern. A second inter-layer dielectric layer having a trench that exposes the via contact hole is formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer. A barrier metal layer is formed on a vertical surface of the via contact and the exposed surface of the second lower metal interconnection layer pattern. A first upper metal interconnection layer pattern is disposed on the barrier metal layer, thereby filling the via contact hole and a portion of the trench. A void diffusion barrier layer is disposed on the first metal interconnection layer pattern and a second upper metal interconnection layer pattern is disposed on the void diffusion barrier layer to completely fill the trench.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a MIM capacitor and a interconnecting structure using a damascene process. The MIM capacitor and the first interconnecting structure can be formed at equal depths.