Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming patterns on a semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device may include high-density patterns with a minimum size that may be less the resolution limit of a photolithography process, and may have a substrate including a memory cell region and an adjacent connection region, a plurality of first conductive lines extending from the memory cell region to the connection region in a first direction, a plurality of second conductive lines connected from respective first conductive lines to a plurality of pads having a width equal to twice the width of each of the first conductive lines. The method may include two levels of spacer formation to provide sub resolution line widths and spaces as well as selected multiples of the minimum line widths and spaces.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, in which an interference effect between word lines is substantially reduced or eliminated, includes forming a plurality of gate patterns on a substrate; forming a first insulating layer between the gate patterns, the first insulating layer filling a region between the gate patterns; etching the first insulating layer to remove a portion of the first insulating layer to a predetermined depth; and forming a second insulating layer on the gate patterns and the first insulating layer. A low-dielectric-constant material is formed between the gate patterns.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices have a first substrate layer and a first transistor on the first substrate layer. A first interlayer insulating film covers the first transistor. A second substrate layer is on the first interlayer insulating film and a second transistor is on the second substrate layer. A second interlayer insulating film covers the second transistor. A contact extends through the second interlayer insulating film, the second substrate layer and the first interlayer insulating film. The contact includes a lower contact and an upper contact that contacts an upper surface of the lower contact to define an interface therebetween. The interface is located at a height no greater than a height of a top surface of the second substrate and greater than a height of a bottom surface of the second substrate layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method are disclosed in which an interlayer insulating layer is patterned using multiple overlaying masks to define the geometry of contact plugs and corresponding wiring layers separated by fine pitches.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices have a first substrate layer and a first transistor on the first substrate layer. A first interlayer insulating film covers the first transistor. A second substrate layer is on the first interlayer insulating film and a second transistor is on the second substrate layer. A second interlayer insulating film covers the second transistor. A contact extends through the second interlayer insulating film, the second substrate layer and the first interlayer insulating film. The contact includes a lower contact and an upper contact that contacts an upper surface of the lower contact to define an interface therebetween. The interface is located at a height no greater than a height of a top surface of the second substrate and greater than a height of a bottom surface of the second substrate layer.

Abstract: For fabricating a phase change memory cell, a layer of phase change material and a layer of a first electrode material are deposited. In addition, the first electrode material is patterned using an etchant including a low-reactivity halogen element such as bromine or iodine to form a first electrode. By using the low-reactivity halogen element, change to the composition of the phase change material and formation of undercut and deleterious halogen by-product are avoided.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device are disclosed. The methods of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device include forming a hard mask layer on a base layer, forming a line sacrificial hard mask layer on the hard mask layer in a first direction, coating a high molecular organic material layer on the line sacrificial hard mask layer pattern, patterning the high molecular organic material layer and the line sacrificial hard mask layer pattern in a second direction, forming a matrix sacrificial hard mask layer pattern, forming a hard mask layer pattern by patterning the hard mask layer with the matrix sacrificial hard mask layer pattern as an etching mask and forming a lower pattern by patterning the base layer using the hard mask layer pattern as an etch mask. The method according to the invention is simpler and less expensive than conventional methods.

Abstract: A multilayer insulating structure including a first stop layer, a first insulating layer and a second stop layer is formed on the first conductive structure. A second conductive structure and a second insulating layer are formed on the first conductive structure. The second insulating layer and the second conductive structure are etched to form a first hole and a second hole having a first radius. A spacer is formed on sidewalls of the first and second holes. The second stop layer and the first insulating layer are etched using the spacer as an etch mask to form a third hole having a second radius smaller than the first radius. A sacrificial filler is formed on the first stop layer to fill the third hole. After removing the spacer, the sacrificial filler is removed. The first stop layer is etched. A carbon nano-tube is grown from the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device may include forming a pad oxide layer pattern and a mask pattern on a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench within the semiconductor substrate with the mask pattern functioning as an etching mask, sequentially forming a first device isolation layer and a second device isolation layer that may fill the trench, forming an opening by removing the mask pattern to expose an upper surface of the pad oxide layer pattern and a sidewall of the second device isolation layer, and forming a floating gate forming region having a width wider than the opening by simultaneously removing the pad oxide layer pattern and a sidewall portion of the second device isolation layer exposed by the opening.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided. Methods of forming a finer pattern of a semiconductor device using a buffer layer for retarding, or preventing, bridge formation between patterns in the formation of a finer pattern below resolution limits of a photolithography process by double patterning are also provided. A first hard mask layer and/or a second hard mask layer may be formed on a layer of a substrate to be etched. A first etch mask pattern of a first pitch may be formed on the second hard mask layer. After a buffer layer is formed on the overall surface of the substrate, a second etch mask pattern of a second pitch may be formed thereon in a region between the first etch mask pattern. The buffer layer may be anisotropically etched using the second etch mask pattern as an etch mask, forming a buffer layer pattern.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a device isolation film, a tunnel insulation film, a plurality of floating gates, an inter-gate dielectric film, and a control gate pattern. Trenches are formed in the substrate that define active regions therebetween. The device isolation film is in the trenches in the substrate. The tunnel insulation film is on the active regions of the substrate. The plurality of floating gates are each on the tunnel insulation film over the active regions of the substrate. The inter-gate dielectric film extends across the floating gates and the device isolation film. The control gate pattern is on the inter-gate dielectric film and extends across the floating gates. A central region of the device isolation film in the trenches has an upper major surface that is recessed below an upper major surface of a surrounding region of the device isolation film in the trenches.

Abstract: A method for removing an oxide layer such as a natural oxide layer and a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus which uses the method to remove the oxide layer. A vertically movable susceptor is installed at the lower portion in a processing chamber and a silicon wafer is loaded onto the susceptor when it is at the lower portion of the processing chamber. The air is exhausted from the processing chamber to form a vacuum condition therein. A hydrogen gas in a plasma state and a fluorine-containing gas are supplied into the processing chamber to induce a chemical reaction with the oxide layer on the silicon wafer, resulting in a reaction layer. Then, the susceptor is moved up to the upper portion of the processing chamber, to anneal the silicon wafer on the susceptor with a heater installed at the upper portion of the processing chamber, thus vaporizing the reaction layer. The vaporized reaction layer is exhausted out of the chamber.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices have a first substrate layer and a first transistor on the first substrate layer. A first interlayer insulating film covers the first transistor. A second substrate layer is on the first interlayer insulating film and a second transistor is on the second substrate layer. A second interlayer insulating film covers the second transistor. A contact extends through the second interlayer insulating film, the second substrate layer and the first interlayer insulating film. The contact includes a lower contact and an upper contact that contacts an upper surface of the lower contact to define an interface therebetween. The interface is located at a height no greater than a height of a top surface of the second substrate and greater than a height of a bottom surface of the second substrate layer.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a charge trap layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a blocking layer formed on the charge trap layer, and a gate electrode formed on the blocking layer. Sides of blocking layer extend laterally beyond sides of the charge trap layer and lateral sides of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes forming a carbon-containing layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming an insulating layer pattern on the carbon-containing layer, the insulating layer pattern partially exposing an upper surface of the carbon-containing layer, dry-etching the exposed portion of the carbon-containing layer, to form a carbon-containing layer pattern for defining a storage node hole, forming a bottom electrode inside the storage node hole, forming a dielectric layer on the bottom electrode inside the storage node hole, the dielectric layer covering the bottom electrode, and forming an upper electrode on the dielectric layer inside the storage node hole, the upper electrode covering the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A multilayer insulating structure including a first stop layer, a first insulating layer and a second stop layer is formed on the first conductive structure. A second conductive structure and a second insulating layer are formed on the first conductive structure. The second insulating layer and the second conductive structure are etched to form a first hole and a second hole having a first radius. A spacer is formed on sidewalls of the first and second holes. The second stop layer and the first insulating layer are etched using the spacer as an etch mask to form a third hole having a second radius smaller than the first radius. A sacrificial filler is formed on the first stop layer to fill the third hole. After removing the spacer, the sacrificial filler is removed. The first stop layer is etched. A carbon nano-tube is grown from the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device comprises forming floating gates on active regions of a semiconductor substrate and forming a capping layer on the floating gates. An isolation layer located in the semiconductor substrate between the floating gates is anisotropically etched using the capping layer as an etch mask to form recessed regions. The recessed regions are formed to have a width smaller than a distance between the floating gates, and bottom surfaces positioned below bottom surfaces of the floating gates. Control gate electrodes are formed across the active regions over the floating gates and the control gate electrodes have control gate extensions formed within the recessed regions between the floating gates.

Abstract: First, second and third layers are formed on a substrate for forming a fine pattern. A first mask pattern having a first space is formed on the third layer. A third layer pattern having a second space exposing the second layer is formed. A first sacrificial layer is formed on the second layer having the third layer pattern. A fourth layer is formed on the first sacrificial layer. A double mask pattern including the first and second mask patterns is formed using the second mask pattern in the second space. A second sacrificial layer is formed on the first sacrificial layer. A sacrificial layer pattern having a third space is formed by removing the double mask pattern, the third layer pattern, and a portion of the first sacrificial layer. An insulation layer pattern is formed by removing a portion of the first and second layers.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device are disclosed. The methods of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device include forming a hard mask layer on a base layer, forming a line sacrificial hard mask layer on the hard mask layer in a first direction, coating a high molecular organic material layer on the line sacrificial hard mask layer pattern, patterning the high molecular organic material layer and the line sacrificial hard mask layer pattern in a second direction, forming a matrix sacrificial hard mask layer pattern, forming a hard mask layer pattern by patterning the hard mask layer with the matrix sacrificial hard mask layer pattern as an etching mask and forming a lower pattern by patterning the base layer using the hard mask layer pattern as an etch mask. The method according to the invention is simpler and less expensive than conventional methods.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method are disclosed in which an interlayer insulating layer is patterned using multiple overlaying masks to define the geometry of contact plugs and corresponding wiring layers separated by fine pitches.