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: 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: 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: After an SBT layer is precipitated onto a substrate, the SBT layer is structured as a still amorphous layer. Only subsequently is it subjected to a crystallization process. Layers produced in this manner have a relatively high degree of dielectric strength and have no stoichiometric deviations on the etched edges.

Abstract: A method of producing a ferroelectric semiconductor memory, includes forming a switching transistor on a semiconductor substrate, applying an insulating layer to the switching transistor and then forming a storage capacitor, with electrodes of platinum and a ferroelectric or paraelectric dielectric, on the insulating layer. In order to protect the dielectric from being penetrated by hydrogen during further process steps, a first barrier layer is embedded into the insulating layer and, after completion of the storage capacitor, a second barrier layer, which bonds with the first barrier layer, is deposited.

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: 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: 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: 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: The damage to edge sections which occurs during the patterning of a metal-oxide-containing layer can be compensated by the deposition of an annealing layer and a subsequent heat treatment step through which a material flow takes place from the annealing layer into the damaged edge sections. The metal-oxide-containing layer can form the dielectric of a storage capacitor of a DRAM memory cell.

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 patterned layer from a layer material. The method includes steps of: providing a substrate with at least one target region and at least one migration region; applying a layer material; adding a material to the layer material; and performing a heat treatment such that the layer material migrates from the migration region to the target region and a layer which is self-aligned and self-patterned with respect to the target region is formed. The method has the advantage that the layer material, which can often only be etched with difficulty, does not have to be patterned directly. The desired structure of the layer is predetermined by preliminarily structuring the substrate into a target region and a migration region, and is produced by the migration of the layer material as a result of the heat treatment.

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: The crystallization temperature of a ferroelectric layer (3) (dielectric) for a storage capacitor can be lowered by applying a very thin (CeO2 layer (2) to a first platinum electrode layer (1) of the storage capacitor before the ferroelectric layer is deposited. The dielectric layer (3) deposited in amorphous state is then crystallized by a temperature treatment step at a temperature in the range between 590° C. and 620° C. A second electrode layer (4) is then applied to complete the storage capacitor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ferroelectric RAM configuration, including a number of storage cells, each of which has a selection transistor and a capacitor device with a ferroelectric dielectric. The capacitor device includes at least two capacitors whose coercive voltages are different from each other.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a precious-metal electrode for a storage capacitor includes providing a substrate, applying a catalytically inactive insulation and a catalytically active connection region to the substrate. The catalytically active connection region can be a precious metal material such as a precious metal or an oxide of a precious metal. The catalytically active connection region and the catalytically inactive insulation region are produced, for example, by patterning the connection region or by planarizing the connection region and the insulation region. The next step is depositing selectively the precious metal material on the catalytically active connection region by passing an organometallic compound of a precious metal to the substrate at a temperature from 0° to 120° C.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a patterned layer from a layer material. The method includes steps of: providing a substrate with at least one target region and at least one migration region; applying a layer material; adding a material to the layer material; and performing a heat treatment such that the layer material migrates from the migration region to the target region and a layer which is self-aligned and self-patterned with respect to the target region is formed. The method has the advantage that the layer material, which can often only be etched with difficulty, does not have to be patterned directly. The desired structure of the layer is predetermined by preliminarily structuring the substrate into a target region and a migration region, and is produced by the migration of the layer material as a result of the heat treatment.

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: The crystallization temperature of a ferroelectric layer (3) (dielectric) for a storage capacitor can be lowered by applying a very thin CeO2 layer (2) to a first platinum electrode layer (1) of the storage capacitor before the ferroelectric layer is deposited. The dielectric layer (3) deposited in amorphous state is then crystallized by a temperature treatment step at a temperature in the range between 590° C. and 620° C. A second electrode layer (4) is then applied to complete the storage capacitor.

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.