Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of a semiconductor device. In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, sacrificial oxide films are formed over the side surface of a control gate electrode formed in a memory cell region, the surface of a cap insulating film formed in the memory cell region, and the surface of the part, which remains in a peripheral circuit region, of an insulating film. The step of forming the sacrificial oxide films includes the steps of: oxidizing the side surface of the control gate electrode by a thermal oxidation method; and oxidizing the surface of the cap insulating film and the surface of the part, which remains in the peripheral circuit region, of the insulating film by an ISSG oxidation method.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability. A semiconductor device is provided forming a control gate electrode for memory cell on a semiconductor substrate via a first insulating film; forming a memory gate electrode for memory cell, which is adjacent to the control gate electrode, on the semiconductor substrate via a second insulating film having a charge storage portion; forming n? type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; forming sidewall spacers on the side wall of the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode; forming n+ type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; and removing an upper portion of the second insulating film present between the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. A removal length of the second insulating film is larger than the depth of the n+ type semiconductor regions.

Abstract: To improve a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory. A first MISFET, a second MISFET, and a memory cell are formed, and a stopper film made of a silicon oxide film is formed thereover. Then, over the stopper film, a stress application film made of a silicon nitride film is formed, and the stress application film over the second MISFET and the memory cell is removed. Thereafter, heat treatment is performed to apply a stress to the first MISFET. Thus, a SMT is not applied to each of elements, but is applied selectively. This can reduce the degree of degradation of the second MISFET due to H (hydrogen) in the silicon nitride film forming the stress application film. This can also reduce the degree of degradation of the characteristics of the memory cell due to the H (hydrogen) in the silicon nitride film forming the stress application film.

Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, in a memory cell region, a control gate electrode formed of a first conductive film is formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulation film and a second conductive film are formed in such a manner as to cover the control gate electrode, and the second conductive film is etched back. As a result, the second conductive film is left over the sidewall of the control gate electrode via the insulation film, thereby to form a memory gate electrode. Then, in a peripheral circuit region, a p type well is formed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A third conductive film is formed over the p type well. Then, a gate electrode formed of the third conductive film is formed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a nonvolatile memory cell and a field effect transistor together is improved in performance. In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a hydrogen-containing insulating film is formed before heat treatment of a semiconductor wafer, the hydrogen-containing insulating film covering a gate electrode and agate insulating film in a region that will have a memory cell therein, and exposing a region that will have therein a MISFET configuring a peripheral circuit. Consequently, hydrogen in the hydrogen-containing insulating film is diffused into an interface between the gate insulating film and the semiconductor substrate, and thereby a defect at the interface is selectively repaired.

Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of a semiconductor device. In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, sacrificial oxide films are formed over the side surface of a control gate electrode formed in a memory cell region, the surface of a cap insulating film formed in the memory cell region, and the surface of the part, which remains in a peripheral circuit region, of an insulating film. The step of forming the sacrificial oxide films includes the steps of: oxidizing the side surface of the control gate electrode by a thermal oxidation method; and oxidizing the surface of the cap insulating film and the surface of the part, which remains in the peripheral circuit region, of the insulating film by an ISSG oxidation method.

Abstract: Improvements are achieved in the properties of a semiconductor device including a MISFET and a nonvolatile memory. Over a gate electrode included in the MISFET and a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode each included in a memory cell, a stress application film is formed of a silicon nitride film. Then, by removing the silicon nitride film from over the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode, an opening is formed over the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. Then, in a state where the opening is formed in the silicon nitride film, heat treatment is performed to apply a stress to the MISFET. By thus removing the stress application film (silicon nitride film) from over the memory cell, it is possible to avoid the degradation of the properties of the memory cell due to H (hydrogen) in the silicon nitride film.

Abstract: An improvement is achieved in the performance of a semiconductor device. In a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, using a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode which are formed over a semiconductor substrate as a mask, n-type impurity ions are implanted from a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the semiconductor substrate. Then, using the control gate electrode, the memory gate electrode, and first and second sidewall spacers as a mask, other n-type impurity ions are implanted from a direction inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: In method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a nonvolatile memory, a new method for manufacturing a capacitor element is provided. After working a control gate electrode, a gate insulation film including an electric charge accumulation section, and a memory gate electrode of a memory cell, in order to protect the memory cell, a p-type well of a MISFET is formed in a state the control gate electrode, the gate insulation film, and the memory gate electrode are covered by an insulation film. Also, this insulation film is used as a capacitor insulation film of a laminated type capacitor element.

Abstract: To improve a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory. a first MISFET, a second MISFET, and a memory cell are formed, and a stopper film made of a silicon oxide film is formed thereover. Then, over the stopper film, a stress application film made of a silicon nitride film is formed, and the stress application film over the second MISFET and the memory cell is removed. Thereafter, heat treatment is performed to apply a stress to the first MISFET. Thus, a SMT is not applied to each of elements, but is applied selectively. This can reduce the degree of degradation of the second MISFET due to H (hydrogen) in the silicon nitride film forming the stress application film. This can also reduce the degree of degradation of the characteristics of the memory cell due to the H (hydrogen) in the silicon nitride film forming the stress application film.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability. A semiconductor device is provided forming a control gate electrode for memory cell on a semiconductor substrate via a first insulating film; forming a memory gate electrode for memory cell, which is adjacent to the control gate electrode, on the semiconductor substrate via a second insulating film having a charge storage portion; forming n? type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; forming sidewall spacers on the side wall of the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode; forming n+ type semiconductor regions for source or drain in the semiconductor substrate by ion implantation; and removing an upper portion of the second insulating film present between the control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. A removal length of the second insulating film is larger than the depth of the n+ type semiconductor regions.

Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, in a memory cell region, a control gate electrode formed of a first conductive film is formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulation film and a second conductive film are formed in such a manner as to cover the control gate electrode, and the second conductive film is etched back. As a result, the second conductive film is left over the sidewall of the control gate electrode via the insulation film, thereby to form a memory gate electrode. Then, in a peripheral circuit region, a p type well is formed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A third conductive film is formed over the p type well. Then, a gate electrode formed of the third conductive film is formed.

Abstract: The present invention improves the performance of a semiconductor device. In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, sacrificial oxide films are formed over the side surface of a control gate electrode formed in a memory cell region, the surface of a cap insulating film formed in the memory cell region, and the surface of the part, which remains in a peripheral circuit region, of an insulating film. The step of forming the sacrificial oxide films includes the steps of: oxidizing the side surface of the control gate electrode by a thermal oxidation method; and oxidizing the surface of the cap insulating film and the surface of the part, which remains in the peripheral circuit region, of the insulating film by an ISSG oxidation method.

Abstract: An improvement is achieved in the performance of semiconductor device including a nonvolatile memory. In a split-gate nonvolatile memory, between a memory gate electrode and a p-type well and between a control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode, an insulating film is formed. Of the insulating film, the portion between the lower surface of the memory gate electrode and the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate has silicon oxide films, and a silicon nitride film interposed between the silicon oxide films. Of the insulating film, the portion between a side surface of the control gate electrode and a side surface of the memory gate electrode is formed of a silicon oxide film, and does not have the silicon nitride film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having improved reliability is disclosed. In a semiconductor device according to one embodiment, an element isolation region extending in an X direction has a crossing region that crosses, in plan view, a memory gate electrode extending in a Y direction that intersects with the X direction at right angles. In this case, in the crossing region, a width in the Y direction of one edge side, the one edge side being near to a source region, is larger than a width in the Y direction of the other edge side, the other edge side being near to a control gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a nonvolatile memory is provided which has improved characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a control gate electrode, a memory gate electrode disposed adjacent to the control gate electrode, a first insulating film, and a second insulating film including therein a charge storing portion. Among these components, the memory gate electrode is formed of a silicon film including a first silicon region positioned over the second insulating film,. and a second silicon region positioned above the first silicon region. The second silicon region contains p-type impurities, and the concentration of p-type impurities of the first silicon region is lower than that of the p-type impurities of the second silicon region.

Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. Between a memory gate electrode and a p type well, and between a control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode of a split gate type nonvolatile memory, an insulation film having a charge accumulation layer therein is formed. The insulation film includes a lamination film of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film formed thereover, another silicon oxide film formed thereover, and an insulation film formed thereover, and thinner than the upper silicon oxide film. The insulation film is in contact with the memory gate electrode including polysilicon. The insulation film is formed of a metal compound containing at least one of Hf, Zr, Al, Ta, and La, and hence can cause Fermi pinning, and has a high dielectric constant.

Abstract: In connection with a semiconductor device including a capacitor element there is provided a technique capable of improving the reliability of the capacitor element. A capacitor element is formed in an element isolation region formed over a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor element includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode formed over the lower electrode through a capacitor insulating film. Basically, the lower electrode and the upper electrode are formed from polysilicon films and a cobalt silicide film formed over the surfaces of the polysilicon films. End portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the upper electrode are spaced apart a distance from end portions of the upper electrode. Besides, end portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the lower electrode are spaced apart a distance from boundaries between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.

Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. Between a memory gate electrode and a p type well, and between a control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode of a split gate type nonvolatile memory, an insulation film having a charge accumulation layer therein is formed. The insulation film includes a lamination film of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film formed thereover, another silicon oxide film formed thereover, and an insulation film formed thereover, and thinner than the upper silicon oxide film. The insulation film is in contact with the memory gate electrode including polysilicon. The insulation film is formed of a metal compound containing at least one of Hf, Zr, Al, Ta, and La, and hence can cause Fermi pinning, and has a high dielectric constant.

Abstract: An improvement is achieved in the performance of semiconductor device including a nonvolatile memory. In a split-gate nonvolatile memory, between a memory gate electrode and a p-type well and between a control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode, an insulating film is formed. Of the insulating film, the portion between the lower surface of the memory gate electrode and the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate has silicon oxide films, and a silicon nitride film interposed between the silicon oxide films. Of the insulating film, the portion between a side surface of the control gate electrode and a side surface of the memory gate electrode is formed of a silicon oxide film, and does not have the silicon nitride film.