Abstract: A resistive random access memory (RRAM) device may include a first metal pattern on a substrate, a first insulating layer on the first metal pattern and on the substrate, an electrode, a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer, a resistive memory layer, and a second metal pattern. Portions of the first metal pattern may be between the substrate and the first insulating layer, and the first insulating layer may have a first opening therein exposing a portion of the first metal pattern. The electrode may be in the opening with the electrode being electrically coupled with the exposed portion of the first metal pattern. The first insulating layer may be between the second insulating layer and the substrate, and the second insulating layer may have a second opening therein exposing a portion of the electrode.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a pattern having trenches on a semiconductor substrate; forming a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor device that fills the trenches; planarizing the semiconductor layer using a first planarization process without exposing the pattern; performing an epitaxy growth process on the first planarized semiconductor layer to form a crystalline semiconductor layer; and planarizing the crystalline semiconductor layer until the pattern is exposed to form a crystalline semiconductor pattern.

Abstract: Spaced apart bonding surfaces are formed on a first substrate. A second substrate is bonded to the bonding surfaces of the first substrate and cleaved to leave respective semiconductor regions from the second substrate on respective ones of the spaced apart bonding surfaces of the first substrate. The bonding surfaces may include surfaces of at least one insulating region on the first substrate, and at least one active device may be formed in and/or on at least one of the semiconductor regions. A device isolation region may be formed adjacent the at least one of the semiconductor regions.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device and methods of forming the same are provided. Forming a ferroelectric device includes forming an insulation layer over a substrate having a conductive region, forming a bottom electrode electrically connected to the conductive region in the insulation layer, recessing the insulation layer, and forming a ferroelectric layer and an upper electrode layer covering the bottom electrode over the recessed insulation layer, The bottom electrode protrudes over an upper surface of the recessed insulation layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including a channel layer includes forming a single crystalline semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate. The single crystalline semiconductor layer includes a protrusion extending from a surface thereof. A first polishing process is performed on the single crystalline semiconductor layer to remove a portion of the protrusion such that the single crystalline semiconductor layer includes a remaining portion of the protrusion. A second polishing process different from the first polishing process is performed to remove the remaining portion of the protrusion and define a substantially planar single crystalline semiconductor layer having a substantially uniform thickness. A sacrificial layer may be formed on the single crystalline semiconductor layer and used as a polish stop for the first polishing process to define a sacrificial layer pattern, which may be removed prior to the second polishing process.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first conductive line on a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating layer on the first conductive line, a second conductive line on the interlayer insulating layer, and a memory cell in an hole through the interlayer insulating layer wherein the first and second conductive lines cross, the memory cell including a discrete resistive memory material region disposed in the hole and electrically connected between the first and second conductive lines. The resistive memory material region may be substantially contained within the hole. In some embodiments, contact between the resistive memory material region and the interlayer insulating layer is substantially limited to sidewalls of the interlayer insulating layer in the hole.

Abstract: In a method of recycling a substrate having an edge portion on which a stepped portion is formed, the substrate is chemically mechanically polished using a first slurry composition including fumed silica to remove the stepped portion. The substrate is then chemically mechanically polished using a second slurry composition including colloidal silica to improve the surface roughness of the substrate. The substrate having the edge region on which the stepped portion is formed may include a donor substrate used for manufacturing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate.

Abstract: Provided are FeRAM device constructions and fabrication methods that provide for the direct connection of metal patterns to ferroelectric capacitors. The FeRAM device constructions utilize a combination of one or more barrier layers incorporated in conductive plugs, barrier layers incorporated in primary conductive patterns or conductive patterns formed using one or more noble metals to suppress parametric drift associated with conventional FeRAM constructions.

Abstract: A dielectric layer is formed on a region of a microelectronic substrate. A sacrificial layer is formed on the dielectric layer, and portions of the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer are removed to form an opening that exposes a portion of the region. A conductive layer is formed on the sacrificial layer and in the opening. Portions of the sacrificial layer and the conductive layer on the dielectric layer are removed to leave a conductive plug in the dielectric layer and in contact with the region. Removal of the sacrificial layer and portions of the conductive layer on the dielectric layer may include polishing to expose the sacrificial layer and to leave a conductive plug in the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer, etching the sacrificial layer to expose the dielectric layer and leave a portion of the conductive plug protruding from the dielectric layer, and polishing to remove the protruding portion of the conductive plug.

Abstract: A protection layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and an alignment key region. A plurality of data storage elements are formed on the protection layer in the cell array region. An insulating layer is formed on the data storage elements, a barrier layer is formed on the insulating layer, and a sacrificial layer is formed on the barrier layer. The sacrificial layer, the barrier layer and the insulating layer are patterned to form contact holes that expose the data storage elements, and conductive plugs are formed in the contact holes. The sacrificial layer is etched to leave portions of the conductive plugs protruding from the barrier layer. The protruding portions of the conductive plugs are removed by polishing.

Abstract: A dielectric layer is formed on a region of a microelectronic substrate. A sacrificial layer is formed on the dielectric layer, and portions of the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer are removed to form an opening that exposes a portion of the region. A conductive layer is formed on the sacrificial layer and in the opening. Portions of the sacrificial layer and the conductive layer on the dielectric layer are removed to leave a conductive plug in the dielectric layer and in contact with the region. Removal of the sacrificial layer and portions of the conductive layer on the dielectric layer may include polishing to expose the sacrificial layer and to leave a conductive plug in the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer, etching the sacrificial layer to expose the dielectric layer and leave a portion of the conductive plug protruding from the dielectric layer, and polishing to remove the protruding portion of the conductive plug.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device and a method of forming the same are provided. At least two lower electrode patterns are formed on an interlayer insulating layer covering a semiconductor substrate. A seed layer pattern filling a space between at least the two lower electrode patterns and having a planar surface is formed. A ferroelectric layer is formed on the lower electrode pattern and the seed layer pattern. An upper electrode overlapping the two lower electrode patterns is formed on the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a ferroelectric device includes forming a ferroelectric pattern on a substrate, the ferroelectric pattern including a ferroelectric material including titanium and oxygen, forming an insulating layer on the ferroelectric pattern, and planarizing the insulating layer using a slurry until the ferroelectric pattern is exposed, wherein the ferroelectric pattern serves as a polishing stop pattern and the slurry includes ceria.

Abstract: A protection layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and an alignment key region. A plurality of data storage elements are formed on the protection layer in the cell array region. An insulating layer is formed on the data storage elements, a barrier layer is formed on the insulating layer, and a sacrificial layer is formed on the barrier layer. The sacrificial layer, the barrier layer and the insulating layer are patterned to form contact holes that expose the data storage elements, and conductive plugs are formed in the contact holes. The sacrificial layer is etched to leave portions of the conductive plugs protruding from the barrier layer. The protruding portions of the conductive plugs are removed by polishing.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating contacts in integrated circuit devices, such as phase-change memories. A protection layer and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on a semiconductor substrate. A contact hole is formed through the sacrificial layer and the protection layer. A conductive layer is formed on the sacrificial layer and in the contact hole, and portions of the conductive layer and the sacrificial layer are removed to expose the protection layer and form a conductive plug protruding from the protection layer. A protruding portion of the conductive plug removed to leave a contact plug in the protection layer. A phase-change data storage element may be formed on the contact plug.

Abstract: In methods of manufacturing a variable resistance structure and a phase-change memory device, after forming a first insulation layer on a substrate having a contact region, a contact hole exposing the contact region is formed through the first insulation layer. After forming a first conductive layer on the first insulation layer to fill up the contact hole, a first protection layer pattern is formed on the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer is partially etched to form a contact and to form a pad on the contact. A second protection layer is formed on the first protection layer pattern, and then an opening exposing the pad is formed through the second protection layer and the first protection layer pattern. After formation of a first electrode, a phase-change material layer pattern and a second electrode are formed on the first electrode and the second protection layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal-metal oxide resistive memory device including a lower conductive layer pattern disposed in a substrate. An insulation layer is formed over the substrate, including a contact hole to partially expose the upper surface of the lower conductive layer pattern. The contact hole is filled with a carbon nanotube grown from the lower conductive layer pattern. An upper electrode and a transition-metal oxide layer made of a 2-components material are formed over the carbon nanotube and the insulation layer. The metal-metal oxide resistive memory device is adaptable to high integration and operable with relatively small power consumption by increasing the resistance therein.

Abstract: Methods of forming ferroelectric layers include forming a ferroelectric layer on a substrate and chemically-mechanically polishing a surface of the ferroelectric layer by rotating a polishing pad on the surface at a rotation speed in a range from about 5 rpm to about 25 rpm. This polishing step includes pressing the polishing pad onto the surface of the ferroelectric layer at a pressure in a range from about 0.5 psi to about 3 psi. This polishing step may be followed by the step of exposing the polished surface to a rapid thermal anneal. This anneal can be performed in an inert atmosphere containing a gas selected from a group consisting of nitrogen, helium, argon and neon.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for fabricating ferroelectric capacitors and ferroelectric memory devices incorporating such capacitors. The methods according to the invention each include a partial chemical mechanical polishing process by which a planarized surface may be formed on a material layer formed between a buried contact plug and a ferroelectric layer. In particular, the methods according to the invention compensate for recessed or dishing regions formed in the surface of the buried contact plug to suppress or eliminate the propagation of profile of the recessed or dishing regions through intermediate layers to the ferroelectric layer, thereby improving the ferroelectric performance.

Abstract: In fabricating a phase changeable memory device, an insulating layer with an opening extending therethrough is formed on a substrate. A conductive structure is formed in the opening. The conductive structure includes a first conductive plug on opposing sidewalls of the opening and a surface therebetween and a second plug on the first conductive plug. The first conductive plug is between the second plug and the sidewalls of the opening and between the second plug and the surface therebetween. A lower electrode is formed on the first conductive plug, on the second plug, and on the insulating layer. The lower electrode extends outside the opening in the insulating layer. A phase changeable material layer is formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode is formed on the phase changeable material layer opposite the lower electrode.