Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, forming a first photoresist layer over the first semiconductor layer, and using only a first single mask patterning the first photoresist layer to form a first patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes using the first patterned photoresist layer etching the first semiconductor layer to form a select gate and forming a charge storage layer over the select gate and a portion of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor layer over the charge storage layer, forming a second photoresist layer over the second semiconductor layer, and using only a second single mask patterning the second photoresist layer to form a second patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes forming a control gate by anisotropically etching the second semiconductor layer and then subsequently isotropically etching the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a semiconductor device having nanocrystals. The method includes: forming a first insulating layer over a surface of a substrate; forming a first plurality of nanocrystals on the first insulating layer; implanting a first material into the first insulating layer; and annealing the first material to form a second plurality of nanocrystals in the first insulating layer. The method may be used to provide a charge storage layer for a non-volatile memory having a greater nanocrystal density.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a semiconductor device having nanocrystals. The method includes: providing a substrate; forming a first insulating layer over a surface of the substrate; forming a first plurality of nanocrystals on the first insulating layer; forming a second insulating layer over the first plurality of nanocrystals; implanting a first material into the second insulating layer; and annealing the first material to form a second plurality of nanocrystals in the second insulating layer. The method may be used to provide a charge storage layer for a non-volatile memory having a greater nanocrystal density.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a semiconductor device having nanocrystals. The method includes: providing a substrate; forming a first insulating layer over a surface of the substrate; forming a first plurality of nanocrystals on the first insulating layer; forming a second insulating layer over the first plurality of nanocrystals; implanting a first material into the second insulating layer; and annealing the first material to form a second plurality of nanocrystals in the second insulating layer. The method may be used to provide a charge storage layer for a non-volatile memory having a greater nanocrystal density.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a semiconductor device having nanocrystals. The method includes: forming a first insulating layer over a surface of a substrate; forming a first plurality of nanocrystals on the first insulating layer; implanting a first material into the first insulating layer; and annealing the first material to form a second plurality of nanocrystals in the first insulating layer. The method may be used to provide a charge storage layer for a non-volatile memory having a greater nanocrystal density.

Abstract: A split gate nonvolatile memory cell on a semiconductor layer is made by forming a gate dielectric over the semiconductor layer. A first layer of gate material is deposited over the gate dielectric. The first layer of gate material is etched to remove a portion of the first layer of gate material over a first portion of the semiconductor layer and to leave a select gate portion having a sidewall adjacent to the first portion. A treatment is applied over the semiconductor layer to reduce a relative oxide growth rate of the sidewall to the first portion. Oxide is grown on the sidewall to form a first oxide on the sidewall and on the first portion to form a second oxide on the first portion after the applying the treatment. A charge storage layer is formed over the first oxide and along the second oxide. A control gate is formed over the second oxide and adjacent to the sidewall.

Abstract: A first dielectric is formed over a semiconductor layer, a first gate layer over the first dielectric, a second dielectric over the first gate layer, and a third dielectric over the second dielectric. An etch is performed to form a first sidewall of the first gate layer. A second etch is performed to remove portions of the first dielectric between the semiconductor layer and the first gate layer to expose a bottom corner of the first gate layer and to remove portions of the second dielectric between the first gate layer and the third dielectric layer to expose a top corner of the first gate layer. An oxide is grown on the first sidewall and around the top and bottom corners to round the corners. The oxide is then removed. A charge storage layer and second gate layer is formed over the third dielectric layer and overlapping the first sidewall.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor layer, forming nanocrystals over the semiconductor layer, and using a solution comprising pure water, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonium hydroxide to remove at least a portion of the nanocrystals. A ratio by volume of pure water to ammonium hydroxide of the solution may be equivalent to or less than a ratio by volume of 10:1 of pure water to ammonium hydroxide when ammonium hydroxide has a concentration of 29% ammonia by weight. The step of using the solution to remove the at least a portion of the nanocrystals may be performed at a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius or more.

Abstract: A feature is formed in the NVM isolation region during the patterning and etching of an NVM device and a logic device such that the feature is of substantially equal height to the logic device and is well-defined so that it does not cause defect signals. A first conductive layer is formed over a substrate. The first conductive layer is patterned to expose at least a portion of the substrate in an NVM region and at least a portion of an isolation region. An NVM dielectric stack is formed over the first conductive layer, the exposed substrate, and the exposed isolation region, and a second conductive layer is formed over the NVM dielectric stack. The first and second conductive layers and the NVM dielectric stack are patterned to form a first gate and a second gate of an NVM cell in the NVM region and a feature over the isolation region.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device on a semiconductor layer includes forming a select gate, a recess, a charge storage layer, and a control gate. The select gate is formed have a first sidewall over the semiconductor layer. The recess is formed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to the first sidewall of the select gate. The thin layer of charge storage material is formed in which a first portion of the thin layer of charge storage material is formed in the first recess and a second portion of the thin layer of charge storage material is formed along the first sidewall of the first select gate. The control gate is formed over the first portion of the thin layer of charge storage material. The result is a semiconductor device useful a memory cell.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first layer of gate material over a semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask layer over the first layer; forming an opening; forming a charge storage layer over the hard mask layer and within the opening; forming a second layer of gate material over the charge storage layer; removing a portion of the second layer and a portion of the charge storage layer which overlie the hard mask layer, wherein a second portion of the second layer remains within the opening; forming a patterned masking layer over the hard mask layer and over the second portion, wherein the patterned masking layer defines both a first and second bitcell; and forming the first and second bitcell using the patterned masking layer, wherein each of the first and second bitcell comprises a select gate made from the first layer and a control gate made from the second layer.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device using a semiconductor substrate includes forming a first insulating layer having a first band energy over the semiconductor substrate. A first semiconductor layer having a second band energy is formed on the first insulating layer. The first semiconductor layer is annealed to form a plurality of first charge retainer globules from the first semiconductor layer. A first protective film is formed over each charge retainer globule of the plurality of first charge retainer globules. A second semiconductor layer is formed having a third band energy over the plurality of first charge retainer globules. The second semiconductor layer is annealed to form a plurality of storage globules from the second semiconductor layer over the plurality of first charge retainer globules. A magnitude of the second band energy is between a magnitude of the first band energy and a magnitude of the third band energy.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a dielectric layer over a substrate. The method further includes forming a select gate layer over the dielectric layer. The method further includes etching the select gate layer at a first etch rate to form a first portion of a sidewall of a select gate, wherein the step of etching the select gate layer at the first etch rate includes using an oxidizing agent to oxidize at least a top portion of the substrate underlying the dielectric layer to form an oxide layer. The method further includes etching the select gate layer at a second etch rate lower than the first etch rate to form a second portion of the sidewall of the select gate, wherein the step of etching the select gate layer at the second etch rate includes removing only a top portion of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a dielectric layer over a substrate. The method further includes forming a select gate layer over the dielectric layer. The method further includes etching the select gate layer at a first etch rate to form a first portion of a sidewall of a select gate, wherein the step of etching the select gate layer at the first etch rate includes using an oxidizing agent to oxidize at least a top portion of the substrate underlying the dielectric layer to form an oxide layer. The method further includes etching the select gate layer at a second etch rate lower than the first etch rate to form a second portion of the sidewall of the select gate, wherein the step of etching the select gate layer at the second etch rate includes removing only a top portion of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a substrate; forming nanoclusters over the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the nanoclusters; annealing the second dielectric layer using nitrous oxide; and after the annealing the second dielectric layer, forming a gate electrode over the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, forming a first photoresist layer over the first semiconductor layer, and using only a first single mask patterning the first photoresist layer to form a first patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes using the first patterned photoresist layer etching the first semiconductor layer to form a select gate and forming a charge storage layer over the select gate and a portion of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor layer over the charge storage layer, forming a second photoresist layer over the second semiconductor layer, and using only a second single mask patterning the second photoresist layer to form a second patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes forming a control gate by anisotropically etching the second semiconductor layer and then subsequently isotropically etching the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device on a semiconductor layer is provided. The method includes: forming a select gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer; forming a select gate layer over the select gate dielectric layer; and forming a sidewall of the select gate layer by removing at least a portion of the select gate layer. The method further includes growing a sacrificial layer on at least a portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and under at least a portion of the select gate layer and removing the sacrificial layer to expose a surface of the at least portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and a surface of the semiconductor layer under the select gate layer. The method further includes forming a control gate dielectric layer, a charge storage layer, and a control gate layer.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device on a semiconductor layer is provided. The method includes: forming a select gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer; forming a select gate layer over the select gate dielectric layer; and forming a sidewall of the select gate layer by removing at least a portion of the select gate layer. The method further includes growing a sacrificial layer on at least a portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and under at least a portion of the select gate layer and removing the sacrificial layer to expose a surface of the at least portion of the sidewall of the select gate layer and a surface of the semiconductor layer under the select gate layer. The method further includes forming a control gate dielectric layer, a charge storage layer, and a control gate layer.

Abstract: A memory comprising a plurality of P-channel split-gate memory cells are organized in rows and columns. Each of the plurality of P-channel split-gate memory cells comprises a select gate, a control gate, a source region, a drain region, a channel region, and a charge storage layer comprising nanocrystals. Programming a memory cell of the plurality of P-channel split-gate memory cells comprises injecting electrons from a channel region of the memory cell to the charge storage layer. Erasing the memory cell comprises injecting holes from the channel region to the charge storage region.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) cell comprising a layer of discrete charge storing elements, a control gate, and a select gate is provided. The control gate has a first sidewall with a lower portion being at least a first angle 10 degrees away from 90 degrees with respect to substrate. Further, the select gate has a second sidewall with a lower portion being at least a second angle at least 10 degrees away from 90 degrees with respect to the substrate. The NVM cell further comprises a layer of dielectric material located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.