Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic structure which provides improved protection of a hydrogen-sensitive dielectric against hydrogen contamination. According to the invention, the hydrogen sensitive dielectric (14) is covered at lest by an intermediate oxide (18), where material thickness is at lest five times the thickness of the hydrogen-sensitive dielectric. The intermediate oxide (18) simultaneously acts as an internal dielectric and is metabolized on its surface for this purpose. The intermediate oxide (18), which has a sufficient thickness absorbers the hydrogen that may be released during the deposition of a hydrogen barrier layer (22, 26), thus protecting the hydrogen-sensitive dielectric (14).

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor layer stack includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a heavily-doped buried layer of a second conductivity type, and a monocrystalline semiconductor layer of a third conductivity type formed on top of the semiconductor layer and the buried layer, a contact to the buried layer, the contact formed in a contact hole, and a lateral insulation of different portions of the semiconductor structure, the insulation formed in an isolation trench. A contact to the semiconductor substrate may be formed within the isolation trench.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a semiconductor circuit arrangement and to a method for producing the latter. One aspect of the invention is that, as a result of a connecting trench structure and an isolation trench structure of a semiconductor circuit being in direct spatial proximity with respect to one another, an additional capacitor device is formed. The capacitance of said capacitor device is connected as a usable capacitance for the semiconductor circuit and is connected to the latter.

Abstract: A process and method for compensating for a radial non-uniformity on a wafer that includes the steps of: centering a rotational thickness non-uniformity of a film on the wafer about the axis of the spin susceptor following a CMP process; positioning a nozzle in the spin processing unit to direct the etching solution along a radius of the wafer; adjusting the flow of the etching solution from the nozzle; adjusting the rotational speed of the spin susceptor to control the residence time of the etching solution; and coordinating the rotational speed of the spin susceptor, flow of etching solution and positioning of the nozzle to maximize the removal of material. The process may be utilized to compensate for the bowl-shaped non-uniformities of an STI oxide. These non-uniformities are compensated for and addressed after a CMP process.

Abstract: The invention provides methods which can be used to structure even precious metal electrodes with conventional CMP steps, in particular with the aid of conventional slurries such as are already used to structure non-precious metals. Owing to the formation of an alloy, the chemically active components of the slurry are capable of attacking the additive to the precious metal in the alloy, as a result of which the surface of the alloy layer is roughened and the mechanical removal of the precious metal is increased.

Abstract: Capacitor devices are formed in an essentially vertically extending fashion in order to achieve an essentially three-dimensional configuration or a configuration extending into the third dimension. A contacting of plug regions is performed after producing the capacitor devices. Such capacitor devices provide an increased integration density in a semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor configuration is configured with at least two different coercitive voltages. A first electrode structure having a surface which forms at least two levels is firstly produced. A layer of ferroelectric material of varying thickness is deposited over the first electrode by spin coating. A second electrode structure is subsequently formed on the layer of ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A method for removing structures from a substrate is described. The method includes providing a substrate that has the structures that must be removed, applying a sacrifice layer, and removing the structures and the sacrifice layer in a polishing step. The method has the advantage that the sacrifice layer surrounds the structures that must be removed and stabilizes them, so that the structures can be eroded slowly and successively in the subsequent polishing step without breaking off. This prevents a smearing of the material of the structures such as occurs given direct polishing without a sacrifice layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor memory devices is simplified by providing at least some plug regions, which are provided for contacting storage capacitor devices of a capacitor configuration, such that the plug regions have in each case a region that is elevated above the surface region of a passivation region.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor structure includes applying at least one first layer, etching the first layer using a masking layer such that fences are produced, and, after removal of the masking layer and application of an auxiliary layer, the auxiliary layer and the fences are removed jointly except for a predetermined extent of the auxiliary layer. The present invention also relates to use of the method for producing spacers in a semiconductor structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic structure which provides improved protection of a hydrogen-sensitive dielectric against hydrogen contamination. According to the invention, the hydrogen sensitive dielectric (14) is covered at lest by an intermediate oxide (18), where material thickness is at lest five times the thickness of the hydrogen-sensitive dielectric. The intermediate oxide (18) simultaneously acts as an internal dielectric and is metabolized on its surface for this purpose. The intermediate oxide (18), which has a sufficient thickness absorbers the hydrogen that may be released during the deposition of a hydrogen barrier layer (22, 26), thus protecting the hydrogen-sensitive dielectric (14).

Abstract: A method for producing a ferroelectric layer includes preparing a substrate, applying a layer of material, which will be subsequently converted into the ferroelectric layer, and changing the material into the ferroelectric layer by applying an outer electrical field aligned with the direction desired in the ferroelectric material and heat treating the material. By providing a first noble metal electrode on the surface before applying the material that is to become the ferroelectric layer and then subsequently forming a second noble metal electrode on the ferroelectric layer, a ferroelectric storage capacitor can be formed. If the substrate is provided with memory cells, which include at least one transistor for each cell and the above-mentioned ferroelectric storage capacitors, a ferroelectric memory arrangement can be produced.

Abstract: To achieve a highest possible integration density in a semiconductor memory device having storage capacitors as storage elements, the method according to the invention forms the capacitor devices in substantially vertically extending fashion, to, as a result, achieve a substantially three-dimensional configuration and an configuration extending into the third dimension for the capacitor devices, a contact connection of the storage capacitors being formed after the production of the storage capacitors.

Abstract: A method for structuring ferroelectric layers on semiconductor substrates retains or regenerates the adherence and breakdown voltage resistance of the ferroelectric layer, which is especially significant for producing storage capacitors in large-scale integrated FeRAM and DRAM memory components. The addition of H2O or O2 results principally in the recovery of the electrostatic breakdown strength of the ferroelectric layer, which is of importance in particular when the ferroelectric serves as a dielectric of a storage capacitor and has to withstand electric fields of 5-10×106 V/m without a significant leakage current.

Abstract: To manufacture FeRAM memories in a particularly space-saving fashion and, thus, increase the storage density, a manufacturing method forms at least some of the multiplicity of capacitor devices used as storage elements with a multiplicity of individual capacitors that are connected in parallel with one another. The individual capacitors have ferroelectric or paraelectric dielectric regions with different coercitive voltages such that there is a resulting multiplicity of storage states for each of the individual capacitors.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor component includes the steps of applying an electrode material and a metal-oxide-containing layer on a substrate surface and selectively etching the electrode material and the metal-oxide-containing layer for forming a first electrode from the electrode material and forming a metal oxide layer from the metal-oxide-containing layer, wherein the metal oxide layer is disposed on top of the first electrode. The method further includes conformally applying a conductive material which has a given material thickness, anisotropically etching the conductive material for fabricating a resistance element in the form of a self-aligned lateral edge web on at least one sidewall of the metal oxide layer and of the first electrode, and applying a further electrode material at least on the resistance element for forming a second electrode.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor configuration in particular an FeRAM memory device includes the step of filling intermediate regions, which remain free after the formation of a capacitor device on a surface of a substrate, with at least one electrically insulating intermediate layer. The at least one electrically insulating intermediate layer is filled at least up to a level of a topmost layer of the capacitor device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor circuits having integrated capacitors that have a dielectric or a ferroelectric material between electrodes. The materials are subjected to heat treatment at high temperatures in an oxygen atmosphere for the purpose of crystallization. The dielectric or ferroelectric is heated separately from the semiconductor substrate, is comminuted into small particles and only afterward applied in this form to the semiconductor substrate. This makes it possible to integrate substances with arbitrarily high crystallization temperature without damaging the integrated semiconductor circuit, since the semiconductor substrate itself does not have to be heated. Diffusion barriers for oxygen are unnecessary. Previous limitations on the capacitor capacitance are obviated owing to the free choice of dielectric or ferroelectric made possible, and the packing density of the capacitors is increased.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microelectronic component includes the step of applying a barrier against the passage of hydrogen to a storage capacitor having a ferroelectric dielectric or a paraelectric dielectric. During the formation of the barrier, firstly a silicon oxide layer is produced, the latter is then subjected to a heat treatment and a barrier layer is subsequently applied. A microelectronic component has a storage capacitor and a barrier including a silicon oxide layer and a barrier layer. The silicon oxide layer is disposed on an electrode of the storage capacitor and has been subjected to a heat treatment in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The barrier layer is disposed on the silicon oxide layer and protects the storage capacitor against a passage of hydrogen through the barrier.

Abstract: A process for producing structured layers on a base body, in particular a semiconductor body, includes the steps of providing a first layer, structuring the first layer with a partial or complete local layer erosion to form raised and recessed layer regions, and depositing a second layer. The structured first layer is a provided as a permanently remaining layer. Edges are formed at transitions from raised to recessed layer regions. The height difference at the edges of the structured first layer separates individual layer regions of the second layer. The edges of the raised regions act as partition edges for the second layer. A process for producing components of an integrated circuit and a process for producing a memory configuration are also provided.