Abstract: A semiconductor device has a conventional NMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor functioning as an anti-fuse element and having an n type channel region. The conventional NMOS transistor is equipped with an n type extension region and a p type pocket region, while the anti-fuse element is not equipped with an extension region and a pocket region. This makes it possible to improve the performance of the transistor and at the same time improve the characteristics of the anti-fuse element after breakdown of its gate dielectric film.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first anti-fuse element and a second anti-fuse element, respectively composed of a transistor, wherein the first anti-fuse element and the second anti-fuse element are configured so as to be concomitantly programmable, respectively formed in P-wells on a substrate, and the adjacent P-wells are isolated by N-wells of an opposite conductivity type, formed therebetween.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device, includes forming a lower electrode including a metal and a nitrogen on a semiconductor substrate, irradiating a reducing gas to a surface of the lower electrode, and irradiating a gas containing silicon to the surface of the lower electrode to form a projection containing silicide by reacting the metal with the silicon in an island shape on the surface of the lower electrode. Then, a capacitor film is formed on the lower electrode and the projection, and an upper electrode is formed on the capacitor film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a lower electrode provided on a semiconductor substrate, an upper electrode provided on the lower electrode to overlap a part of the lower electrode, a first insulating film provided between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a second insulating film provided in contact with an upper part of the upper electrode and on the upper part of the lower electrode, and having a density higher than that of the first insulating film, the second insulating film covering a side surface and a top surface of the upper electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device 1 includes an interconnect 12, a conductive layer 14 (first conductive layer), an insulating layer 20 (first insulating layer), another conductive layer 30 (second conductive layer), another insulating layer 40 (second insulating layer), a via plug 52 (first via plug), and another via plug 54 (second via plug). In the semiconductor device 1, the conductive layer 14, the insulating layer 20 and the conductive layer 30 constitute a MIM capacitor (capacitor element). To be more detailed, the conductive layer 14, the insulating layer 20 and the conductive layer 30 serve as a lower electrode, an insulating capacitor film and an upper electrode, respectively. The insulating layer 40 covers both the conductive layer 30 and the interconnect 12. The insulating layer 40 works as the etching stopper for the via plugs 52, 54.

Abstract: A post-CMP cleaning process of a copper layer is to be performed as follows. An alkaline aqueous solution, a polycarboxylic acid, BTA, and an alkaline aqueous solution are sequentially brought into contact with a primary surface of a silicon substrate over which the copper layer is provided.

Abstract: A post-CMP cleaning process of a copper layer is to be performed as follows. An alkaline aqueous solution, a polycarboxylic acid, BTA, and an alkaline aqueous solution are sequentially brought into contact with a primary surface of a silicon substrate over which the copper layer is provided.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device having a memory cell in which operating potentials are few and the scale of the peripheral circuitry is reduced includes a select transistor having a source/drain on both sides of a channel of a semiconductor substrate and having a gate electrode disposed on the channel via a thick gate insulating film; an element isolation region formed on the semiconductor substrate in an area adjacent to the select transistor; an antifuse adjacent to the element isolation region, having a lower electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate and having an upper electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate in an area between the element isolation region and lower electrode via a thin gate insulating film; and a connection contact electrically connecting the source and upper electrode and contacting the source and the upper electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a lower electrode provided on a semiconductor substrate, an upper electrode provided on the lower electrode to overlap a part of the lower electrode, a first insulating film provided between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a second insulating film provided in contact with an upper part of the upper electrode and on the upper part of the lower electrode, and having a density higher than that of the first insulating film, the second insulating film covering a side surface and a top surface of the upper electrode.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device, includes forming a lower electrode including a metal and a nitrogen on a semiconductor substrate, irradiating a reducing gas to a surface of the lower electrode, and irradiating a gas containing silicon to the surface of the lower electrode to form a projection containing silicide by reacting the metal with the silicon in an island shape on the surface of the lower electrode. Then, a capacitor film is formed on the lower electrode and the projection, and an upper electrode is formed on the capacitor film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including: a substrate; an insulating film formed over the substrate; a copper interconnect, having a plurality of hillocks formed over the surface thereof, buried in the insulating film; a first insulating interlayer formed over the insulating film and the copper interconnect; a second insulating interlayer formed over the first insulating interlayer; and an electroconductive layer formed over the second insulating interlayer, wherein the top surface of at least one hillock highest of all hillocks is brought into contact with the lower surface of the second insulating interlayer is provided.

Abstract: A post-CMP cleaning process of a copper layer is to be performed as follows. An alkaline aqueous solution, a polycarboxylic acid, BTA, and an alkaline aqueous solution are sequentially brought into contact with a primary surface of a silicon substrate over which the copper layer is provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device 1 includes an interconnect 12, a conductive layer 14 (first conductive layer), an insulating layer 20 (first insulating layer), another conductive layer 30 (second conductive layer), another insulating layer 40 (second insulating layer), a via plug 52 (first via plug), and another via plug 54 (second via plug). In the semiconductor device 1, the conductive layer 14, the insulating layer 20 and the conductive layer 30 constitute a MIM capacitor (capacitor element). To be more detailed, the conductive layer 14, the insulating layer 20 and the conductive layer 30 serve as a lower electrode, an insulating capacitor film and an upper electrode, respectively. The insulating layer 40 covers both the conductive layer 30 and the interconnect 12. The insulating layer 40 works as the etching stopper for the via plugs 52, 54.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, which forms dielectric sidewalls reliably at each side of a first wiring structure to protect its conductive line in the etching process for forming a via hole in an interlayer dielectric layer to cover the first wiring structure. In this method, the first wiring structure is formed on a first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer to cover the first wiring structure. A third dielectric layer serving as an interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the second dielectric layer. The third and second dielectric layers are polished using the CMP technique until the dielectric of the first wiring structure is exposed, thereby leaving part of the second dielectric layer that extends along each side of the first wiring structure and the surface of the first dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is etched using a mask to form a via hole. The hole is then filled with a conductive plug.

Abstract: An interlayer insulation film has a void that minimally has a height that extends from a position that is above the upper surface of wiring to a position that is below the lower surface of wiring, the side wall of this void being linear at an angle in the range from 80 to 100 degrees with respect to the substrate.