Abstract: A device and method for forming a capacitor device comprises forming a substrate, forming a first interlayer dielectric layer on the substrate and forming two or more contact plugs through the substrate. A conducting layer is formed on the first interlayer dielectric layer and an electrode is formed on alternate ones of the contact plugs by etching the conducting layer. The etched electrodes are then coated with a ferroelectric layer. The ferroelectric layer is etched from the surfaces separating the contact plugs and additional electrodes are created by filling the spaces between the electrodes on alternate ones of the contact plugs with a conductive material to establish electrical contact between the plugs and the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sidewall oxygen diffusion barrier and a method for fabricating the sidewall oxygen diffusion barrier that reduces the diffusion of oxygen into contact plugs during a CW hole reactive ion etch of a ferroelectric capacitor of an FeRAM device. In one embodiment the sidewall barrier is formed from a substrate fence. In another embodiment, the sidewall barrier is formed by etching back an oxygen barrier.

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.

Abstract: An improved barrier stack for inhibiting diffusion of atoms or molecules, such as O2 is disclosed. The barrier stack is particularly useful in capacitor over plug structures to prevent plug oxidation which can adversely impact the reliability of the structures. The barrier stack includes first and second barrier layers. In one embodiment, the first barrier layer comprises first and second sub-barrier layers having mismatched grain boundaries. The sub-barrier layers are selected from, for example, Ir, Ru, Pd, Rh, or alloys thereof. By providing mismatched grain boundaries, the interface of the sub-barrier layers block the diffusion path of oxygen. To further enhance the barrier properties, the first barrier layer is passivated with O2 using, for example, a rapid thermal oxidation. The RTO forms a thin oxide layer on the surface of the first barrier layer. The oxide layer can advantageously promote mismatching of the grain boundaries of the first and second sub-barrier layer.

Abstract: The invention includes a wafer having a poly silicon plug passing through a CP-contact. The poly silicon plug is formed from a relatively heavily doped poly silicon layer and a relatively lightly doped poly silicon layer. The relatively lightly doped poly silicon layer passes through the relatively heavily doped poly silicon layer to extend beyond the relatively heavily doped poly silicon layer towards the surface of the wafer. A barrier layer covers top and side walls of the relatively lightly doped poly silicon layer for reducing oxidation at the surface of the poly silicon plug. The wafer is fabricated by depositing a relatively heavily doped poly silicon layer in a CP-contact, depositing a relatively lightly doped poly silicon layer to pass through the relatively heavily doped poly silicon layer, and depositing a barrier layer to cover top and side walls of the relatively lightly doped poly silicon layer to reduce oxidation at the surface of the poly silicon plug.

Abstract: A method for forming high capacitance crystalline dielectric layers with (111) texture is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, deposition of a plurality of nuclei is performed at a temperature in the range of about 430 to 460 degrees Celsius, followed by growth of a continuous BSTO dielectric layer at a temperature greater than 600 degrees Celsius. In an exemplary embodiment, a process is disclosed for growing a barium strontium titanium oxide film with high capacitance and thickness of about 30 nm or less.

Abstract: Reduced radiation damage to an IC feature is disclosed. At least a portion of the feature which is sensitive to radiation is covered by a radiation protection layer. The radiation protection layer protects the feature from being damaged to radiation during, for example, processing of the IC. In one embodiment, the radiation protection layer comprises a noble metal, oxides, alloys, or compounds thereof.

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: A vertical capacitor of an FeRAM device is formed by depositing conductive material and etching it to form electrodes, which are located over openings in an insulating layer so that they are electrically connected to lower levels of the structure. A layer of ferroelectric material is formed on the sides of the electrodes, and etched to a desired, uniform thickness. Conductive material is deposited over the ferroelectric material to form a uniform surface onto which another insulating layer can be deposited. Since this process does not include etching of an insulating layer at a time between the formation of the electrodes and the deposition of the ferroelectric material, no fences of insulating material are formed between them. The geometry can be accurately controlled, to give uniform electric fields and reliable operating parameters.

Abstract: A device and method for forming a capacitor device comprises forming a substrate, forming a first interlayer dielectric layer on the substrate and forming two or more contact plugs through the substrate. A conducting layer is formed on the first interlayer dielectric layer and an electrode is formed on alternate ones of the contact plugs by etching the conducting layer. The etched electrodes are then coated with a ferroelectric layer. The ferroelectric layer is etched from the surfaces separating the contact plugs and additional electrodes are created by filling the spaces between the electrodes on alternate ones of the contact plugs with a conductive material to establish electrical contact between the plugs and the electrodes.

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: Capacitor devices are formed in an essentially vertically extending fashion in order to achieve an essentially three-dimensional configuration or a configuration extending into the third dimension. A contacting of plug regions is performed after producing the capacitor devices. Such capacitor devices provide an increased integration density in a semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: A multi-layer electrode (246) and method of fabrication thereof in which a conductive region (244) is separated from a barrier layer (222) by a first conductive liner (240) and a second conductive liner (242). First conductive layer (240) comprises Pt, and second conductive liner (242) comprises a thin layer of conductive oxide. The multi-layer electrode (246) prevents oxygen diffusion through the top conductive region (244) and reduces material variation during electrode patterning.

Abstract: A multi-layer barrier for a ferroelectric capacitor includes an outdiffusion barrier layer permeable to both hydrogen and oxygen. The outdiffusion barrier layer covers the ferroelectric of the capacitor. Oxygen passes through the outdiffusion barrier layer into the ferroelectric during an oxygen anneal in order to repair damage to the ferroelectric caused during etching. The outdiffusion barrier layer reduces the decomposition of the ferroelectric by blocking molecules leaving the ferroelectric during the oxygen anneal. The multi-layer barrier also includes a hydrogen barrier layer deposited on the outdiffusion barrier layer after repair of the ferroelectric by the oxygen anneal. The hydrogen barrier layer allows the multi-layer barrier to block the passage of hydrogen into the ferroelectric during back-end processes.

Abstract: A multi-layer barrier for a ferroelectric capacitor includes an outdiffusion barrier layer permeable to both hydrogen and oxygen. The outdiffusion barrier layer covers the ferroelectric of the capacitor. Oxygen passes through the outdiffusion barrier layer into the ferroelectric during an oxygen anneal in order to repair damage to the ferroelectric caused during etching. The outdiffusion barrier layer reduces the decomposition of the ferroelectric by blocking molecules leaving the ferroelectric during the oxygen anneal. The multi-layer barrier also includes a hydrogen barrier layer deposited on the outdiffusion barrier layer after repair of the ferroelectric by the oxygen anneal. The hydrogen barrier layer allows the multi-layer barrier to block the passage of hydrogen into the ferroelectric during back-end processes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor memory devices is simplified by providing at least some plug regions, which are provided for contacting storage capacitor devices of a capacitor configuration, such that the plug regions have in each case a region that is elevated above the surface region of a passivation region.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip in which stress on the effective stress on the substrate is reduced in order to reduce bowing. To reduce the effective stress, a stress compensation layer is provided on the backside of the chip. The stress compensating layer produces a stress opposite of that produced by the IC. Thus the overall or effective stress on the substrate is reduced.

Abstract: An electrode 1 of a ferrocapacitor formed by an etching process is treated by oxygen implantation to reduce the size of crystal domains 15 in side regions 11 of the electrode 1. Subsequently a cover layer 3 is deposited over the side wall of the electrode to protect the ferrocapacitor in subsequent process steps. Later in the fabrication process the ferrocapacitor is subject to heat treatments, but due to the reduced size of the crystal domains 15 the growth of the crystal domains in the side regions 11 of the electrode is more homogenous, and causes reduced stresses in the cover layer 3, leading to a reduced risk of the cover layer 3 failing to protect the ferrocapacitor.

Abstract: Si, Al, Al plus TiN, and Ir02 are used as adhesion layers to prevent peeling of noble metal electrodes, such as Pt, from a silicon dioxide (5i02) substrate in capacitor structures of memory devices.

Abstract: Si, Al, Al plus TiN, and Ir02 are used as adhesion layers to prevent peeling of noble metal electrodes, such as Pt, from a silicon dioxide (5i02) substrate in capacitor structures of memory devices.