Abstract: A method of forming a mask stack pattern and a method of manufacturing a flash memory device including an active area having rounded corners are provided. The method of manufacture including forming a mask stack pattern defining an active region, the mask stack pattern having a pad oxide layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, a silicon nitride layer formed on the pad oxide layer and a stack oxide layer formed on the silicon nitride layer, oxidizing a surface of the semiconductor substrate exposed by the mask stack pattern and lateral surfaces of the silicon nitride layer such that corners of the active region are rounded, etching the semiconductor substrate having an oxidized surface to form a trench in the semiconductor substrate, forming a device isolation oxide layer in the trench, removing the silicon nitride layer from the semiconductor substrate, and forming a gate electrode in a portion where the silicon nitride layer is removed.

Abstract: A flash memory device may include a lower tunnel insulation layer disposed on a substrate, an upper tunnel insulation layer disposed on the lower tunnel insulation layer, a floating gate disposed on the upper tunnel insulation layer, an intergate insulation layer disposed on the floating gate; and a control gate disposed on the intergate insulation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, buried isolation regions protruding from the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a first insulating layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate between the isolation regions and including a fluorine, nitrogen, and/or heavy hydrogen impurity. A floating electrode is on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer is on the floating electrode and the isolation regions, and a control gate electrode is on the second insulating layer. Related methods of forming semiconductor devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of forming an insulating film include forming an insulating film on a substrate. A first impurity is injected into the insulating film using a thermal process under a first set of processing conditions to form a first impurity concentration peak in a lower portion of the insulating film. A second impurity is injected into the insulating film using the thermal process under a second set of processing conditions, different from the first set of processing conditions, to form a second impurity concentration peak in an upper portion of the insulating film. Injecting the first impurity and injecting the second impurity may be carried out without using plasma and the first impurity concentration peak may be higher than the second impurity concentration peak.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first dopant area and a second dopant area in a semiconductor substrate, the first dopant area and the second dopant area doped with one selected from the group consisting of Sb, Ga, and Bi. The semiconductor memory device includes an insulating layer disposed in contact with the first dopant area and the second dopant area, and a gate electrode layer disposed in contact with the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device employing a relatively thin polysilicon layer as a floating gate is disclosed, wherein a tunnel oxide layer is formed on a substrate and a polysilicon layer having a thickness of about 35 ? to about 200 ? is then formed on the tunnel oxide layer using a trisilane (Si3H8) gas as a silicon source gas. The tunnel oxide layer and the polysilicon layer are then patterned into a tunnel oxide layer pattern and a polysilicon layer pattern, respectively. A dielectric layer and a conductive layer corresponding to a control gate are subsequently formed on the polysilicon layer pattern. The polysilicon layer is formed using trisilane (Si3H8) gas as a result of which the polysilicon layer may be formed to have a relatively thin thickness while maintaining a thickness uniformity and realizing a superior morphology thus producing a floating gate having enhanced performance.

Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices and related methods of fabricating nonvolatile memory devices are disclosed. A nonvolatile memory device includes a tunnel insulation film on a semiconductor substrate, a charge-trapping layer on the tunnel insulation film, a block insulation film on the charge-trapping layer, and a gate electrode on the blocking insulation film. The blocking insulation film includes a stacked film structure of a high-dielectric film and a barrier insulation film. The high-dielectric film has a first potential barrier relative to the charge-trapping layer. The barrier insulation film has a second potential barrier relative to the charge-trapping layer which is higher than the first potential barrier. The blocking insulation film has a thickness in a range of about 5 ? to about 15 ?.

Abstract: Fabrication of a nonvolatile memory device includes sequentially forming a tunnel oxide layer, a first conductive layer, and a nitride layer on a semiconductor substrate. A stacked pattern is formed from the tunnel oxide layer, the first conductive layer, and the nitride layer and a trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the stacked pattern. An oxidation process is performed to form a sidewall oxide layer on a sidewall of the trench and the first conductive layer. Chlorine is introduced into at least a portion of the stacked pattern subjected to the oxidation process. Introducing Cl into the stacked pattern may at least partially cure defects that are caused therein during fabrication of the structure.

Abstract: A flash memory device including a lower tunnel insulation layer on a substrate, an upper tunnel insulation layer on the lower tunnel insulation layer, and a P-type gate on the upper tunnel insulation layer, wherein the upper tunnel insulation layer includes an amorphous oxide layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, includes forming a tunnel isolation layer comprising an oxynitride on a substrate by a simultaneous oxidation and nitridation treatment in which an oxidation process and a nitridation process are simultaneously performed using a processing gas including oxygen and nitrogen. The method further includes performing first and second heat treatments to remove defect sites from the tunnel isolation layer in gas atmospheres including nitrogen (N) and chlorine (Cl), respectively and forming a gate structure on the tunnel isolation layer after the second heat treatment, and forming source/drain regions at surface portions of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing non-volatile memory devices are disclosed which may at least partially cure etch damage and may at least partially remove defect sites in gate structures of the devices caused during manufacturing of the devices. An exemplary method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device includes forming a gate structure on a substrate, the gate structure including a control gate electrode, a blocking layer pattern, a floating gate electrode, and a tunnel insulating layer pattern. An oxidation process is performed that at least partially cures damage caused to the substrate and to the gate structure during formation of the gate structure. A first heat treatment is performed under a gas atmosphere including nitrogen to at least partially remove defect sites on the gate structure caused by the oxidation process. A second heat treatment is performed under a gas atmosphere including chlorine to at least partially remove remaining defect sites on the gate structure caused by the oxidation process.

Abstract: A flash memory device may include a lower tunnel insulation layer disposed on a substrate, an upper tunnel insulation layer disposed on the lower tunnel insulation layer, a floating gate disposed on the upper tunnel insulation layer, an intergate insulation layer disposed on the floating gate; and a control gate disposed on the intergate insulation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, buried isolation regions protruding from the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a first insulating layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate between the isolation regions and including a fluorine, nitrogen, and/or heavy hydrogen impurity. A floating electrode is on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer is on the floating electrode and the isolation regions, and a control gate electrode is on the second insulating layer. Related methods of forming semiconductor devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices and related methods of fabricating nonvolatile memory devices are disclosed. A nonvolatile memory device includes a tunnel insulation film on a semiconductor substrate, a charge-trapping layer on the tunnel insulation film, a block insulation film on the charge-trapping layer, and a gate electrode on the blocking insulation film. The blocking insulation film includes a stacked film structure of a high-dielectric film and a barrier insulation film. The high-dielectric film has a first potential barrier relative to the charge-trapping layer. The barrier insulation film has a second potential barrier relative to the charge-trapping layer which is higher than the first potential barrier. The blocking insulation film has a thickness in a range of about 5 ? to about 15 ?.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, preliminary isolation regions having protruded upper portions are formed on a substrate to define an active region. After an insulation layer is formed on the active region, a first conductive layer is formed on the insulation layer. The protruded upper portions of the preliminary isolation regions are removed to form isolation regions on the substrate and to expose sidewalls of the first conductive layer, and compensation members are formed on edge portions of the insulation layer. The compensation members may complement the edge portions of the insulation layer that have thicknesses substantially thinner than that of a center portion of the insulation layer, and may prevent deterioration of the insulation layer. Furthermore, the first conductive layer having a width substantially greater than that of the active region may enhance a coupling ratio of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first dopant area and a second dopant area in a semiconductor substrate, the first dopant area and the second dopant area doped with one selected from the group consisting of Sb, Ga, and Bi. The semiconductor memory device includes an insulating layer disposed in contact with the first dopant area and the second dopant area, and a gate electrode layer disposed in contact with the insulating layer.