Abstract: A vertical pillar semiconductor device may include a substrate, a group of channel patterns, a gate insulation layer pattern and a gate electrode. The substrate may be divided into an active region and an isolation layer. A first impurity region may be formed in the substrate corresponding to the active region. The group of channel patterns may protrude from a surface of the active region and may be arranged parallel to each other. A second impurity region may be formed on an upper portion of the group of channel patterns. The gate insulation layer pattern may be formed on the substrate and a sidewall of the group of channel patterns. The gate insulation layer pattern may be spaced apart from an upper face of the group of channel patterns. The gate electrode may contact the gate insulation layer and may enclose a sidewall of the group of channel patterns.

Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing nonvolatile memory devices are provided. The method includes patterning a bulk substrate to form an active pillar; forming a charge storage layer on a side surface of active pillar; and forming a plurality of gates connected to the active pillar, the charge storage layer being disposed between the active pillar and the gates. Before depositing a gate, a bulk substrate is etched using a dry etching to form a vertical active pillar which is in a single body with a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a semiconductor device include forming a seed layer containing a silicon material on a substrate. An amorphous silicon layer containing amorphous silicon material is formed on the seed layer. The amorphous silicon layer is doped with an impurity. A laser beam is irradiated onto the amorphous silicon layer to produce a phase change of the amorphous silicon layer and change the amorphous silicon layer into a single-crystal silicon layer based on the seed layer.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors having elevated source/drain regions are provided. The MOS transistors formed by these methods may include a gate pattern formed to cross over a predetermined region of a substrate. Recessed regions are provided in the substrate adjacent to the gate pattern. Epitaxial layers are provided on bottom surfaces of the recessed regions. High concentration impurity regions are provided in the epitaxial layers. The recessed regions may be formed using a chemical dry etching techniques.

Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices include a string of nonvolatile memory cells on a substrate. This string of nonvolatile memory cells includes a first vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells on the substrate and a string selection transistor on the first vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells. A second vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells is also provided on the substrate and a ground selection transistor is provided on the second vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells. This second vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells is provided adjacent the first vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells. A conjunction doped semiconductor region is provided in the substrate. This conjunction doped region electrically connects the first vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells in series with the second vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells so that these stacks can operate as a single NAND-type string of memory cells.

Abstract: A vertically stacked fusion semiconductor device includes a channel portion which extends in a first direction with respect to a surface of a semiconductor layer, a common source line which extends in a second direction different from the first direction and is electrically connected to the channel portion, a first gate structure which is electrically connected to the common source line via the channel portion and a second gate structure which is electrically connected to the common source line via the channel portion and is on an opposite side of the common source line to the first gate structure.

Abstract: A stacked semiconductor device that is reliable by forming an insulating layer on a lower memory layer and by forming a single crystalline semiconductor in portions of the insulating layer. A method of manufacturing the stacked semiconductor device, including: providing a lower memory layer including a plurality of lower memory structures; forming an insulating layer on the lower memory layer; forming trenches by removing portions of the insulating layer; forming a preparatory semiconductor layer for filling the trenches; and forming a single crystalline semiconductor layer by phase-changing the preparatory semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a vertical NAND semiconductor device can include changing a phase of a first preliminary semiconductor layer in an opening from solid to liquid to form a first single crystalline semiconductor layer in the opening and then forming a second preliminary semiconductor layer on the first single crystalline semiconductor layer. The phase of the second preliminary semiconductor layer is changed from solid to liquid to form a second single crystalline semiconductor layer that combines with the first single crystalline semiconductor layers to form a single crystalline semiconductor layer in the opening.

Abstract: In a vertical-type semiconductor device, a method of manufacturing the same and a method of operating the same, the vertical-type semiconductor device includes a single-crystalline semiconductor pattern having a pillar shape provided on a substrate, a gate surrounding sidewalls of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, a mask pattern formed on the upper surface of the gate, the mask pattern having an upper surface coplanar with the upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, a first impurity region in the substrate under the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, and a second impurity region under the upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern. The vertical-type pillar transistor formed in the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern may provide excellent electrical properties.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device are provided. In the methods, first material layers and second material layers may be alternatingly and repeatedly stacked on a substrate. An opening penetrating the first material layers and the second material layers may be formed. A semiconductor solution may be formed in the opening by using a spin-on process.

Abstract: A vertical pillar semiconductor device includes a substrate, a single crystalline semiconductor pattern, a gate insulation layer structure and a gate electrode. The substrate may include a first impurity region. The single crystalline semiconductor pattern may be on the first impurity region. The single crystalline semiconductor pattern has a pillar shape substantially perpendicular to the substrate. A second impurity region may be formed in an upper portion of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern. The gate insulation layer structure may include a charge storage pattern, the gate insulation layer structure on a sidewall of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern. The gate electrode may be formed on the gate insulation layer structure and opposite the sidewall of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern. The gate electrode has an upper face substantially lower than that of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device comprises active patterns arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate, electrodes arranged three-dimensionally between the active patterns, and memory regions arranged three-dimensionally at intersecting points defined by the active patterns and the electrodes. Each of the active patterns is used as a common current path for an electrical connection to two different memory regions that are formed at the same height from the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an inorganic insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, a contact plug that extends through the inorganic insulating layer to contact the semiconductor substrate and a stress buffer spacer disposed between the node contact plug and the inorganic insulating layer. The device further includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) disposed on the inorganic insulating layer and having a source/drain region extending along the inorganic insulating layer to contact the contact plug. The device may further include an etch stop layer interposed between the inorganic insulating layer and the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Memory devices include a stack of interleaved conductive patterns and insulating patterns disposed on a substrate. A semiconductor pattern passes through the stack of conductive patterns and insulating patterns to contact the substrate, the semiconductor pattern having a graded grain size distribution wherein a mean grain size in a first portion of the semiconductor pattern proximate the substrate is less than a mean grain size in a second portion of the semiconductor pattern further removed from the substrate. The graded grain size distribution may be achieved, for example, by partial laser annealing.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor cell array region, a method of forming a semiconductor device including the semiconductor cell array region, and a method of forming a semiconductor module including the semiconductor device are provided, the methods of forming the semiconductor cell array region include preparing a semiconductor plate. A semiconductor layer may be formed over the semiconductor plate. The semiconductor layer may be etched to form semiconductor pillars over the semiconductor plate.

Abstract: In semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate of semiconductor material extending in a horizontal direction. A plurality of interlayer dielectric layers are on the substrate. A plurality of gate patterns are provided, each gate pattern between a neighboring lower interlayer dielectric layer and a neighboring upper interlayer dielectric layer. A vertical channel of semiconductor material is on the substrate and extending in a vertical direction through the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the plurality of gate patterns. The vertical channel has an outer sidewall, the outer sidewall having a plurality of channel recesses, each channel recess corresponding to a gate pattern of the plurality of gate patterns. The vertical channel has an inner sidewall. An information storage layer is present in the recess between each gate pattern and the vertical channel that insulates the gate pattern from the vertical channel.

Abstract: Methods of forming nonvolatile memory devices include forming a vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells on a substrate. This is done by forming a vertical stack of spaced-apart gate electrodes on a first sidewall of a vertical silicon active layer and treating a second sidewall of the vertical silicon active layer in order to reduce crystalline defects within the active layer and/or reduce interface trap densities therein. This treating can include exposing the second sidewall with an oxidizing species that converts a surface of the second sidewall into a silicon dioxide passivation layer. A buried insulating pattern may also be formed directly on the silicon dioxide passivation layer.

Abstract: In a vertical-type semiconductor device, a method of manufacturing the same and a method of operating the same, the vertical-type semiconductor device includes a single-crystalline semiconductor pattern having a pillar shape provided on a substrate, a gate surrounding sidewalls of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, a mask pattern formed on the upper surface of the gate, the mask pattern having an upper surface coplanar with the upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, a first impurity region in the substrate under the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern, and a second impurity region under the upper surface of the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern. The vertical-type pillar transistor formed in the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern may provide excellent electrical properties.

Abstract: A vertical pillar semiconductor device includes a substrate, a single crystalline semiconductor pattern, a gate insulation layer structure and a gate electrode. The substrate may include a first impurity region. The single crystalline semiconductor pattern may be on the first impurity region. The single crystalline semiconductor pattern has a pillar shape substantially perpendicular to the substrate. A second impurity region may be formed in an upper portion of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern. The gate insulation layer structure may include a charge storage pattern, the gate insulation layer structure on a sidewall of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern. The gate electrode may be formed on the gate insulation layer structure and opposite the sidewall of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern. The gate electrode has an upper face substantially lower than that of the single crystalline semiconductor pattern.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit includes forming a first dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, patterning the first dielectric layer to form a first patterned dielectric layer, forming a non-single crystal seed layer on the first patterned dielectric layer, removing a portion of the seed layer to form a patterned seed layer, forming a second dielectric layer on the first patterned dielectric layer and the patterned seed layer, removing portions of the second dielectric layer to form a second patterned dielectric layer, irradiating the patterned seed layer to single-crystallize the patterned seed layer, removing portions of the first patterned dielectric layer and the second patterned dielectric layer such that the single-crystallized seed layer protrudes in the vertical direction with respect to the first and/or the second patterned dielectric layer, and forming a gate electrode in contact with the single-crystal active pattern.