Abstract: An FeRAM comprising includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. A V0-contact provides an electrical connection with an underlying CS-contact. The V0-contact is aligned using the bottom electrode. A liner layer covers a sidewall of the bottom electrode and provides a stop to an etch a hole forming the V0-contact. A method is utilized to form a V0-contact in an FeRAM comprising. An Fe capacitor of the FeRAM is encapsulated, a bottom electrode is etched, a liner layer is deposited covering a sidewall of the bottom electrode, and a hole is etched for the V0-contact until the etching is stopped by the liner layer.

Abstract: An interconnect includes an opening formed in a dielectric layer. A conductive barrier is deposited in the opening, over which a first conductive layer is deposited. A conductive oxide is deposited over the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer, formed from the same material as the first conductive layer, is deposited over the conductive liner.

Abstract: A memory system includes a plurality of resistive memory cell fields including at least a first resistive memory cell field and a second resistive memory cell field, the first resistive memory cell field formed with a plurality of resistive memory cells storing data at a first data storage speed, the second resistive memory cell field formed with a plurality of resistive memory cells storing data at a second data storage speed lower than the first data storage speed, and a controller controlling data transfer between the plurality of resistive memory cell fields.

Abstract: A memory array includes first, second, third and forth memory cell strings. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth memory cell strings includes a number of serially-coupled memory cells, including a first memory cell and a last memory cell. A first interconnect is coupled to a first bit line and to each of the first, second, third and fourth memory cell strings. The first interconnect includes first, second, third and fourth string input select gates. Each input select gate has a first terminal coupled to the first bit line, and a second terminal coupled to one of the respective first, second, third or fourth memory cell strings.

Abstract: A memory cell arrangement includes a first memory cell string having a plurality of serially source-to-drain-coupled transistors, at least some of them being memory cells, a second memory cell string having a plurality of serially source-to-drain-coupled transistors, at least some of them being memory cells. A dielectric material is between and above the first memory cell string and the second memory cell string. A source/drain line groove is defined in the dielectric material. The source/drain line groove extends from a source/drain region of one transistor of the first memory cell string to a source/drain region of the second memory cell string. Electrically conductive filling material is disposed in the source/drain line groove. Dielectric filling material is disposed in the source/drain line groove between the source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact between a bitline and a local interconnect in a flash memory device comprises forming a hard mask layer on a planarized surface that includes an exposed top section of the local interconnects prior to depositing an oxide dielectric layer. The hard mask layer may be composed of a material that has an etch resistance as compared to the interlayer dielectric material, e.g., nitride. Openings in the hard mask define positions for the contacts to the local interconnects exposed in the top section.

Abstract: An interconnect includes an opening formed in a dielectric layer. A conductive barrier is deposited in the opening, over which a first conductive layer is deposited. A conductive oxide is deposited over the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer, formed from the same material as the first conductive layer, is deposited over the conductive liner.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing at least one NAND-coupled semiconductor component is disclosed. A layer structure is formed on or above a semiconductor substrate. The layer structure is patterned to expose at least one region to be doped. The exposed region is doped and annealed. The patterned layer structure is at least partially removed. Replacing material is formed in the region in which the patterned layer structure has been removed, thereby forming the at least one NAND-coupled semiconductor component.

Abstract: A hard mask layer stack for patterning a layer to be patterned includes a carbon layer disposed on top of the layer to be patterned, a first layer of a material selected from the group of SiO2 and SiON disposed on top of the carbon layer and a silicon layer disposed on top of the first layer. A method of patterning a layer to be patterned includes providing the above described hard mask layer stack on the layer to be patterned and patterning the silicon hard mask layer in accordance with a pattern to be formed in the layer that has to be patterned.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a channel region, a gate electrode adjacent the channel region, and a charge-trapping layer between the channel region and the gate electrode. A voltage is applied between the gate electrode and the channel region to cause a first current of a first kind of charge carriers from the channel region to move into the charge-trapping layer and to cause a second current of a second kind of charge carriers from the gate electrode to move into the charge-trapping layer, until the value of the second current is at least half the amount of the first current value.

Abstract: A hard mask layer stack for patterning a layer to be patterned includes a carbon layer disposed on top of the layer to be patterned, a first layer of a material selected from the group of SiO2 and SiON disposed on top of the carbon layer and a silicon layer disposed on top of the first layer. A method of patterning a layer to be patterned includes providing the above described hard mask layer stack on the layer to be patterned and patterning the silicon hard mask layer in accordance with a pattern to be formed in the layer that has to be patterned.

Abstract: Si, Al, Al plus TiN, and IrO2 are used as adhesion layers to prevent peeling of noble metal electrodes, such as Pt, from a silicon dioxide (SiO2) substrate in capacitor structures of memory devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor product (1) includes a plurality of wordlines extending along a first lateral direction (x) along a substrate surface (22) and also includes contact structures (3) as well as filling structures (4) therebetween. Along the first direction (x) the contact structures (3) and the filling structures (4) are arranged in alternating order between two respective wordlines. Each contact structure (3) serves to connect two active areas (23) separated by one respective trench isolation filling (24) to a respective bitline (14). Accordingly, the width of the first contact structures (3) is much larger than the width of the bitlines (14) along the first direction (x). According to embodiments of the invention, tapered upper portions (9) of the contact structures (3) are shaped, the upper portions (9) having a width being significantly smaller than the width of the contact structures (3) along the first direction (x).

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of a ferroelectric capacitor comprising depositing a layer of Ti 5 over an insulating layer 3 of Al2O3, and oxidising the Ti layer to form a TiO2 layer 7. Subsequently, a layer of PZT 9 is formed over the TiO2 layer 7. The PZT layer 9 is subjected to an annealing step in which, due to the presence of the TiO2 layer 7 it crystallises to form a layer 11 with a high degree of (111)-texture.

Abstract: A semiconductor product includes a substrate having a substrate surface. A plurality of wordlines are arranged at a distance from one another and running along a first direction. A plurality of conductive contact structures are provided between the wordlines. The product also includes a plurality of filling structures. Each filling structure separates from one another two respective contact structures arranged between two respective wordlines. The two respective contact structures are arranged at a distance from one another in the first direction. In the preferred embodiment, the contact structures have a top side provided at a distance from the substrate surface and extends to the substrate surface. The contact structures at the substrate surface have a width along the first direction that is larger than a width of the top sides of the contact structures along the first direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor product includes, a substrate with a first dielectric layer having contact hole fillings for contacting active areas in the substrate. A second dielectric layer with contact holes is provided therein. The contact holes have a width in a first lateral direction. The product further includes conductive lines, each conductive line passing over contact holes in the second dielectric layer and contacting a plurality of contact hole fillings in the first dielectric layer. The conductive lines have a width, in the first lateral direction, that is smaller than the width of the contact holes of the second dielectric layer. The conductive lines are in direct mechanical contact with the contact hole fillings and thereby remove the need to provide any conventional “contact to interconnect” structures.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact between a bitline and a local interconnect in a flash memory device comprises forming a hard mask layer on a planarized surface that includes an exposed top section of the local interconnects prior to depositing an oxide dielectric layer. The hard mask layer may be composed of a material that has an etch resistance as compared to the interlayer dielectric material, e.g., nitride. Openings in the hard mask define positions for the contacts to the local interconnects exposed in the top section.

Abstract: An FeRAM comprising includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. A V0-contact provides an electrical connection with an underlying CS-contact. The V0-contact is aligned using the bottom electrode. A liner layer covers a sidewall of the bottom electrode and provides a stop to an etch a hole forming the V0-contact. A method is utilized to form a V0-contact in an FeRAM comprising. An Fe capacitor of the FeRAM is encapsulated, a bottom electrode is etched, a liner layer is deposited covering a sidewall of the bottom electrode, and a hole is etched for the V0-contact until the etching is stopped by the liner layer.

Abstract: An FeRAM comprising includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. A V0-contact provides an electrical connection with an underlying CS-contact. The V0-contact is aligned using the bottom electrode. A liner layer covers a sidewall of the bottom electrode and provides a stop to an etch a hole forming the V0-contact. A method is utilized to form a V0-contact in an FeRAM comprising. An Fe capacitor of the FeRAM is encapsulated, a bottom electrode is etched, a liner layer is deposited covering a sidewall of the bottom electrode, and a hole is etched for the VO-contact until the etching is stopped by the liner layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a capacitor provided above the semiconductor substrate and including a bottom electrode, a top electrode, and a dielectric film provided between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, the bottom electrode comprising a first conductive film containing iridium, a second conductive film provided between the dielectric film and the first conductive film and formed of a noble metal film, a third conductive film provided between the dielectric film and the second conductive film and formed of a metal oxide film having a perovskite structure, and a diffusion prevention film provided between the first conductive film and the second conductive film and including at least one of a metal film and a metal oxide film, the diffusion prevention film preventing diffusion of iridium contained in the first conductive film.