Abstract: Multi-layered dielectric films which can improve the performance characteristics of a microelectronic device are provided as well as methods of manufacturing the same. The multi-layered dielectric film includes a single component oxide layer made of a single component oxide, and composite components oxide layers made of a composite components oxide including two or more different components formed along either side of the single component oxide layer without a layered structure.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with enhancements of electrical characteristics. The method includes sequentially forming a lower electrode and an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, dry-etching a region of the insulating layer corresponding to a capacitor forming region so that the lower electrode is not exposed, forming an inter-insulating layer by wet-etching the insulating layer so that a region of the lower electrode corresponding to the capacitor forming region is exposed, and sequentially forming a dielectric layer and an upper electrode on the capacitor forming region to fabricate a capacitor.

Abstract: A MEMS tunable capacitor and method of fabricating the same, includes a plurality of fixed charge plates on a substrate, the plurality of fixed charge plates having a same height, being arranged in a shape of comb-teeth and being electrically connected to one another, a capacitor dielectric layer covering the plurality of fixed charge plates, a movable charge plate structure spaced apart from the capacitor dielectric layer, and arranged on the plurality of fixed charge plates, wherein the movable charge plate structure includes a plurality of movable charge plates arranged corresponding the plurality of fixed charge plates, and an actuator connected to the movable charge plate structure allowing the movable charge plate structure to move in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: In a capacitor, and a method of fabricating the same, the capacitor includes a lower electrode, a dielectric layer on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer includes a lower dielectric region contacting the lower electrode, an upper dielectric region contacting the upper electrode, and at least one middle dielectric region between the lower dielectric region and the upper dielectric region, the at least one middle dielectric region having a less crystalline region than both the lower dielectric region and the upper dielectric region.

Abstract: Methods of forming a thin film by atomic layer deposition are disclosed. These methods generally include the steps of loading a substrate into a reaction chamber, and injecting a first source gas containing a first atom into the reaction chamber to form a chemical adsorption layer containing the first atom on the substrate. In one representative embodiment, a first reaction gas is then injected into the reaction chamber while a first plasma power is applied to the reaction chamber such that the first reaction gas reacts with the chemical adsorption layer containing the first atom to form a first thin film on the substrate. A second source gas containing a second atom is then injected into the reaction chamber to form a chemical adsorption layer containing the second atom on the substrate having the first thin film.

Abstract: In a capacitor, and a method of fabricating the same, the capacitor includes a lower electrode, a dielectric layer on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer includes a lower dielectric region contacting the lower electrode, an upper dielectric region contacting the upper electrode, and at least one middle dielectric region between the lower dielectric region and the upper dielectric region, the at least one middle dielectric region having a less crystalline region than both the lower dielectric region and the upper dielectric region.

Abstract: An analog capacitor capable of reducing the influence of an applied voltage on a capacitance and a method of manufacturing the analog capacitor are provided. The analog capacitor includes a lower electrode which is formed on a substrate, a multi-layered dielectric layer which includes at least one oxide layer and at least one oxynitride layer which are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Hf, Al, Zr, La, Ba, Sr, Ti, Pb, Bi and a combination thereof and is formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode which is formed on the multi-layered dielectric layer.

Abstract: In a capacitor of an analog semiconductor device having a multi-layer dielectric film and a method of manufacturing the same, the multi-layer dielectric film can be readily manufactured, has weak reactivity with corresponding electrodes and offers excellent leakage current characteristics. In order to obtain these advantages, a lower dielectric film having a negative quadratic VCC, an intermediate dielectric film having a positive quadratic VCC, and an upper dielectric film having a negative quadratic VCC are sequentially formed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode. The lower dielectric film and the upper dielectric film may be composed of SiO2. The intermediate dielectric film may be composed of HFO2.

Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric layer using a plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition technique includes: loading a semiconductor substrate having a three-dimensional structure into a reaction chamber; and repeatedly performing the following steps until a dielectric layer with a desired thickness is formed: supplying a source gas into the reaction chamber; stopping the supply of the source gas and purging the source gas remaining inside the reaction chamber; and supplying oxygen gas into the reaction chamber after purging the source gas, and applying RF power for oxygen plasma treatment, a level of the applied RF power and a partial pressure of the oxygen gas being increased concurrently with an increased aspect ratio of the three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: In semiconductor integrated circuit devices having a hybrid dielectric layer and methods of fabricating the same, the hybrid dielectric layer includes a lower dielectric layer, an intermediate dielectric layer and an upper dielectric layer which are sequentially stacked. The lower dielectric layer contains hafnium (Hf) or zirconium (Zr). The upper dielectric layer also contains Hf or Zr. The intermediate dielectric layer is formed of a material layer having a voltage dependent capacitance variation lower than that of the lower dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a reaction chamber using a substrate having a metal catalyst thereon is disclosed. The method includes preparing a substrate having a catalyst layer to activate a cleaning gas. The substrate is introduced into the reaction chamber. Next, a cleaning gas is introduced into the reaction chamber. Contaminations in the reaction chamber are exhausted. The substrate having a metal catalyst layer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A MEMS tunable capacitor and method of fabricating the same, includes a plurality of fixed charge plates on a substrate, the plurality of fixed charge plates having a same height, being arranged in a shape of comb-teeth and being electrically connected to one another, a capacitor dielectric layer covering the plurality of fixed charge plates, a movable charge plate structure spaced apart from the capacitor dielectric layer, and arranged on the plurality of fixed charge plates, wherein the movable charge plate structure includes a plurality of movable charge plates arranged corresponding the plurality of fixed charge plates, and an actuator connected to the movable charge plate structure allowing the movable charge plate structure to move in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: In a capacitor, and a method of fabricating the same, the capacitor includes a lower electrode, a dielectric layer on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer includes a lower dielectric region contacting the lower electrode, an upper dielectric region contacting the upper electrode, and at least one middle dielectric region between the lower dielectric region and the upper dielectric region, the at least one middle dielectric region having a less crystalline region than both the lower dielectric region and the upper dielectric region.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a thin film for providing improved fabrication productivity. The method includes introducing a semiconductor substrate into a process chamber. A process thin film is formed on the semiconductor substrate, in which a chamber coating layer is formed on inner walls of the process chamber while the process thin film is formed. The semiconductor substrate is removed from the process chamber. A stress relief layer is formed on the chamber coating layer. After all of the above operations are repeatedly performed at least one time, an in-situ cleaning is performed on the chamber coating layer and the stress relief layer, which are alternately formed in stack on the inner walls of the process chamber.

Abstract: A logic device having a vertically extending MIM capacitor between interconnect layers includes a semiconductor substrate. A lower interconnect layer is located over the semiconductor substrate, and an upper interconnect layer is located over the lower interconnect layer. A U-shaped lower metal plate is interposed between the lower interconnect layer and the upper interconnect layer. The U-shaped lower metal plate directly contacts the lower interconnect layer. The capacitor dielectric layer covers the inner surface of the lower metal plate. Further, the capacitor dielectric layer has an extension portion interposed between the brim of the lower metal plate and the upper interconnect layer. An upper metal plate covers the inner surface of the capacitor dielectric layer. The upper metal plate is in contact with the upper interconnect layer and is confined by the capacitor dielectric layer.

Abstract: There are provided an analog capacitor having at least three high-k dielectric layers, and a method of fabricating the same. The analog capacitor includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and at least three high-k dielectric layers interposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. The at least three high-k dielectric layers include a bottom dielectric layer contacting the lower electrode, a top dielectric layer contacting the upper electrode, and a middle dielectric layer interposed between the bottom dielectric layer and the top dielectric layer. Further, each of the bottom dielectric layer and the top dielectric layer is a high-k dielectric layer, the absolute value of the quadratic coefficient of VCC thereof being relatively low compared to that of the middle dielectric layer, and the middle dielectric layer is a high-k dielectric layer having a low leakage current compared to those of the bottom dielectric layer and the top dielectric layer.