Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises: a plurality of transistors having a stacked-gate structure, each transistor including a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulator formed on the semiconductor substrate, a lower gate formed on the semiconductor substrate with the gate insulator interposed, an intergate insulator formed on the lower gate, and an upper gate formed and silicided on the lower gate with the intergate insulator interposed. A portion of the transistors has an aperture formed through the intergate insulator to connect the lower gate with the upper gate and further includes a silicide suppression region between the aperture and the gate insulator to suppress diffusion of metal atoms from the silicided upper gate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device of an embodiment includes: after forming a first interconnection layer and a memory cell layer above a semiconductor substrate, forming first lines by forming first grooves extending in first direction; forming a thin film on the side walls of the first grooves; forming a stack structure by filling an interlayer insulating film in the first grooves; forming a second interconnection layer above the stack structure; forming second lines by forming second grooves extending in second direction; removing the thin film exposed at bottom of the second grooves; and forming columnar memory cells by removing the memory cell layer exposed at bottom of the second grooves. The thin film has higher etching rate than the interlayer insulating film, and is removed prior to portions of the memory cell layer adjoining the thin film.

Abstract: A laminated body is formed by alternately laminating a plurality of dielectric films and electrode films on a silicon substrate. Next, a through hole extending in the lamination direction is formed in the laminated body. Next, a selective nitridation process is performed to selectively form a charge layer made of silicon nitride in a region of an inner surface of the through hole corresponding to the electrode film. Next, a high-pressure oxidation process is performed to form a block layer made of silicon oxide between the charge layer and the electrode film. Next, a tunnel layer made of silicon oxide is formed on an inner side surface of the through hole. Thus, a flash memory can be manufactured in which the charge layer is split for each electrode film.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include forming a first film on an amorphous silicon layer to be patterned, the first film and the amorphous film having a line-and-space ratio of approximately 3:1, sliming down, after processing the first film, a line portion of the pattern from both longitudinal sides of the line portion until the width of the line portion is reduced to approximately one third, reforming a part of the amorphous silicon layer where the first film is not provided such that reformed part has different etching ratio, and removing the first film and the amorphous silicon layer other than reformed part.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises: a plurality of transistors having a stacked-gate structure, each transistor including a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulator formed on the semiconductor substrate, a lower gate formed on the semiconductor substrate with the gate insulator interposed, an intergate insulator formed on the lower gate, and an upper gate formed and silicided on the lower gate with the intergate insulator interposed. A portion of the transistors has an aperture formed through the intergate insulator to connect the lower gate with the upper gate and further includes a silicide suppression region between the aperture and the gate insulator to suppress diffusion of metal atoms from the silicided upper gate.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells, each including a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a floating gate formed on the semiconductor substrate with the inclusion of the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the floating gate, and a control gate formed on the floating gate with the inclusion of the second insulating film; an element isolation insulating film formed in the semiconductor substrate and extending in a gate-length direction to isolate between memory cells adjoining in a gate-width direction; and an air gap formed on the element isolation insulating film and between floating gates adjoining in the gate-width direction.