Abstract: Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are described. According to one implementation, a capacitor opening is formed over a substrate node location. Electrically conductive material is subsequently formed within the capacitor opening and makes an electrical connection with the node location. A protuberant insulative structure is formed within the capacitor opening and includes a lateral outer surface at least a portion of which is supported by and extends elevationally below adjacent conductive material. First and second capacitor plates and a dielectric layer therebetween are formed within the capacitor opening and supported by the protuberant structure. In one aspect, the conductive material is formed to occupy less than all of the capacitor opening and to leave a void therewithin, with the protuberant structure substantially, if not completely filling in the void.

Abstract: A method of forming a resistor from semiconductive material includes, a) providing a substrate; b) providing a layer of semiconductive material over the substrate; c) providing a pair of openings into the semiconductive material layer; d) plugging the pair of openings with an electrically conductive material to define a pair of electrically conductive pillars within the semiconductive material, the pair of pillars having semiconductive material extending therebetween to provide a resistor construction; and e) providing a conductive node to each of the electrically conductive pillars.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate having a barrier layer of titanium silicide is comprised of the steps of forming a layer of gate oxide. The gate oxide may be formed using a standard LOCOS process. A layer of doped polysilicon is deposited over the layer of gate oxide. A layer of titanium silicide is formed in a predetermined relationship with respect the layer of doped polysilicon, i.e., it may be deposited on top of the polysilicon or formed in a top surface of the polysilicon layer. A layer of tungsten silicide is deposited on top of the layer of titanium silicide. The layers of gate oxide, doped polysilicon, titanium silicide, and tungsten silicide are etched to form the gate. A gate thus fabricated is also disclosed.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a field oxide isolation pad which extends from a trench formed in a microelectronic substrate by a height which is less than approximately two times the height of a gate structure formed on the microelectronic substrate. Spacers are formed around the gate structures, although little or no spacer forms around the isolation pad.

Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor includes, a) providing a series of alternating first and second layers of semiconductive material over a node location, a first of the first and second layers having an average conductivity enhancing dopant concentration of greater than about 5.times.10.sup.19 ions/cm.sup.3, a second of the first and second layers having an average conductivity enhancing dopant concentration from 0 ions/cm.sup.3 to about 5.times.10.sup.19 ions/cm.sup.

Abstract: This invention is a process for forming an effective titanium nitride barrier layer between the upper surface of a polysilicon plug formed in thick dielectric layer and a platinum lower capacitor plate in a dynamic random access memory which is being fabricated on a silicon wafer. The barrier layer process begins by etching the upper surface of the polysilicon plug using a selective polysilicon etch until it is recessed at least 1000 .ANG. below the upper surface of the thick dielectric layer. Using a collimated sputter source, a titanium layer having a thickness of 100-500 .ANG. is deposited over the surface of the in-process wafer, thus covering the upper surfaces of the polysilicon plugs. A layer of amorphous titanium carbonitride having a thickness of 100-300 .ANG. is then deposited via low-pressure chemical vapor deposition. This is followed by the deposition of a reactively sputtered titanium nitride layer having a thickness of 1000-2000 .ANG..

Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate having a barrier layer of titanium silicide is comprised of the steps of forming a layer of gate oxide. The gate oxide may be formed using a standard LOCOS process. A layer of doped polysilicon is deposited over the layer of gate oxide. A layer of titanium silicide is formed in a predetermined relationship with respect the layer of doped polysilicon, i.e., it may be deposited on top of the polysilicon or formed in a top surface of the polysilicon layer. A layer of tungsten silicide is deposited on top of the layer of titanium silicide. The layers of gate oxide, doped polysilicon, titanium silicide, and tungsten silicide are etched to form the gate. A gate thus fabricated is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a bottom gated TFT includes, a) providing a transistor gate relative to a substrate which projects outward thereof; b) providing a dielectric layer over the gate; c) providing a TFT layer of semiconductive material over the dielectric layer; the thin film transistor layer comprising a source area, a channel area, a drain area, and a drain offset area; d) providing a masking layer over the TFT layer; e) anisotropically etching the masking layer to define a masking sidewall spacer laterally adjacent the transistor gate over the drain offset area and leave the channel area outwardly exposed; f) with the masking sidewall spacer in place, implanting a conductivity enhancing impurity of a first type into the thin film channel area to provide a thin film channel region; and g) masking the channel area and the drain offset area while implanting conductivity enhancing impurity of a second type into the thin film source and drain areas to define thin film source and channel regions.

Abstract: The invention is a storage cell capacitor and a method for forming the storage cell capacitor having a storage node electrode comprising a barrier layer interposed between a conductive plug and an oxidation resistant layer. A thick insulative layer protects the sidewalls of the barrier layer during the deposition and anneal of a dielectric layer having a high dielectric constant. The method comprises forming the conductive plug in a thick layer of insulative material such as oxide or oxide/nitride. The conductive plug is recessed from a planarized top surface of the thick insulative layer. The barrier layer is then formed in the recess. The process is continued with a formation of a second insulative layer, a potion of which is removed to form an opening exposing a portion of the barrier layer. An oxidation resistant conductive layer is deposited in the recess and forms at least a portion the storage node electrode of the capacitor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating hemispherical grained (HSG) silicon layers. A surface seeding method is disclosed, wherein an amorphous silicon layer is doped with germanium. The silicon may be doped with germanium during deposition, or a previously formed silicon layer may be implanted with the germanium. The layer may also be in situ conductively doped. The Ge-doped amorphous silicon is then subjected to a vacuum anneal in which surface migration of silicon atoms causes a redistribution in the layer, and hemispherical grains or bumps result. A seeding source gas may flow during the anneal to aid in nucleation. The method permits HSG silicon formation at lower temperature and shorter duration anneals than prior art methods. Greater silicon mobility in the presence of germanium dopants also enables the growth of larger grains, thus enhancing surface area. At the same time, the germanium provides conductivity for memory cell charge storage.

Abstract: Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are described. According to one implementation, a capacitor opening is formed over a substrate node location. Electrically conductive material is subsequently formed within the capacitor opening and makes an electrical connection with the node location. A protuberant insulative structure is formed within the capacitor opening and includes a lateral outer surface at least a portion of which is supported by and extends elevationally below adjacent conductive material. First and second capacitor plates and a dielectric layer therebetween are formed within the capacitor opening and supported by the protuberant structure. In one aspect, the conductive material is formed to occupy less than all of the capacitor opening and to leave a void therewithin, with the protuberant structure substantially, if not completely filling in the void.

Abstract: The invention is a storage cell capacitor having a storage node electrode comprising a barrier layer interposed between a conductive plug and an oxidation resistant layer. A thick insulative layer protects the sidewalls of the barrier layer during the deposition and anneal of a dielectric layer having a high dielectric constant.The method comprises forming the conductive plug in a thick layer of insulative material such as oxide or oxide/nitride. The conductive plug is recessed from a planarized top surface of the thick insulative layer. The barrier layers is formed in the recess and the top layer. The process continued with a formation of an oxidation resistant conductive layer and the deposition of a further oxide layer to fill remaining portions of the recess. The oxidation resistant conductive layer is planarized to expose the oxide or oxide/nitride layer and the oxide layers are then etched to expose the top surface and vertical portions of the oxidation resistant conductive layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric layer includes, a) chemical vapor depositing a dielectric layer of Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 atop a substrate; and b) providing a predominately amorphous diffusion barrier layer over the Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 dielectric layer. A method of forming a capacitor includes, a) providing a node to which electrical connection to a capacitor is to be made; b) providing a first electrically conductive capacitor plate over the node; c) chemical vapor depositing a capacitor dielectric layer of Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 over the first electrically conductive capacitor plate; and d) providing a predominately amorphous diffusion barrier layer over the Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 dielectric layer. A capacitor construction is also disclosed. The preferred amorphous diffusion barrier layer is electrically conductive and constitutes a metal organic chemical vapor deposited TiC.sub.x N.sub.y O.sub.z, where "x" is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5, and "y" is in the range of from 0.99 to 0.5, and "z" is in the range of from 0 to 0.

Abstract: Uniformity of thin deposited layers on textured surfaces is enhanced by reducing the total surface area available to film deposition. The backside surface area of a semiconductor wafer is reduced prior to film deposition, thereby reducing the available surface to deposition when a deposition process is supply-limited. Reducing the backside surface area suppresses nonuniformities in thin film deposition when the deposition process is substantially supply-limited. The present invention is advantageous for improving uniformity of nitride capacitor dielectric layers deposited on textured electrodes.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved stacked capacitor with rounded corners for increasing capacitor breakdown voltage, and a method of constructing the same. The preferred method comprises rounding corners of a container-shaped bottom electrode. In particular, sharp corners of a pre-fabricated conductive silicon container are exposed to an ammonium hydroxide/peroxide mixture. The slow etching effect of the clean rounds angled surfaces thereby minimizing the high field effects usually associated with corners and other angled surfaces. Reducing such field effects by reducing or eliminating sharp corners helps prevent breakdown of the capacitor structure dielectric. When the conductive container includes a rough layer, such as hemispherical grained silicon, the invention provides the additional advantage of separating individual hemispherical grains, thus allowing later deposition of a uniformly thick dielectric layer.

Abstract: A trench for isolating active devices on a semiconductor substrate, formed by creating a trench which has a peripheral edge, and disposing an isolating material in the trench. The isolating material extends over the peripheral edge of the trench, thereby covering at least a portion of the substrate surrounding the trench, and substantially limiting leakage of the active devices disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: The invention is a storage cell capacitor and a method for forming the storage cell capacitor having a storage node electrode comprising a barrier layer interposed between a conductive plug and an oxidation resistant layer. A layer of titanium silicide is fabricated to lie between the conductive plug and the oxidation resistant layer. A thick insulative layer protects the sidewalls of the barrier layer during the deposition and anneal of a dielectric layer having a high dielectric constant. The method comprises forming the conductive plug in a thick layer of insulative material such as oxide or oxide/nitride. The conductive plug is recessed from a planarized top surface of the thick insulative layer. Titanium is deposited and a rapid thermal anneal is performed. The titanium reacts with silicide of the conductive plug to form TiSi at the bottom of the recess. Unreacted Ti is removed. The barrier layer is then formed in the recess.

Abstract: A capacitor for high density DRAM applications comprises a high-.epsilon. capacitor dielectric such as BST or PZT in an arrangement which obviates the need for barrier layers during fabrication. The fabrication process allows for electrode placement by simple sputter deposition and further provides for the possibility of capacitor spacing below that of conventional lithographic techniques.

Abstract: A method of forming a resistor from semiconductive material includes, a) providing a substrate; b) providing a layer of semiconductive material over the substrate; c) providing a pair of openings into the semiconductive material layer; d) plugging the pair of openings with an electrically conductive material to define a pair of electrically conductive pillars within the semiconductive material, the pair of pillars having semiconductive material extending therebetween to provide a resistor construction; and e) providing a conductive node to each of the electrically conductive pillars.