Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include forming a first interlayer insulation layer on a substrate including at least one gate structure formed thereon, the substrate having a plurality of source/drain regions formed on both sides of the at least one gate structure, forming at least one buried contact plug on at least one of the plurality of source/drain regions and in the first interlayer insulation layer, forming a second interlayer insulation layer on the first interlayer insulation layer and the at least one buried contact plug, exposing the at least one buried contact plug in the second interlayer insulation layer by forming at least one contact hole, implanting ions in the at least one contact hole in order to create an amorphous upper portion of the at least one buried contact plug, depositing a lower electrode layer on the second interlayer insulation layer and the at least one contact hole, and forming a metal silicide layer in the amorphous upper portion of the at least one buri

Abstract: A sputtering target includes a tungsten (W)-nickel (Ni) alloy, wherein the nickel (Ni) is present in an amount of between about 0.01 weight % and about 1 weight %.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a recess is formed in an active region of a substrate. A gate insulation layer is formed in the first recess. A barrier layer is formed on the gate insulation layer. A preliminary nucleation layer having a first resistance is formed on the barrier layer. The preliminary nucleation layer is converted into a nucleation layer having a second resistance substantially smaller than the first resistance. A conductive layer is formed on the nucleation layer. The conductive layer, the nucleation layer, the barrier layer and the gate insulation layer are partially etched to form a buried gate structure including a gate insulation layer pattern, a barrier layer pattern, a nucleation layer pattern and a conductive layer pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed on a strained silicon layer and a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor device are disclosed. In accordance with this invention, a first silicon germanium layer is formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate; a second silicon germanium layer is formed on the first silicon germanium layer, the second silicon germanium layer having a concentration of germanium in a range of about 1 percent by weight to about 15 percent by weight based on the total weight of the second silicon germanium layer; a strained silicon layer is formed on the second silicon germanium layer; an isolation layer is formed at a first portion of the strained silicon layer; a gate structure is formed on the strained silicon layer; and, source/drain regions are formed at second portions of the strained silicon layer adjacent to the gate structure to form a transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region defined by an isolation region and having at least one trench therein, a gate insulating layer formed in the at least one trench, a gate electrode layer having a nano-crystalline structure disposed on the gate insulating layer and a word line on the gate electrode layer in the at least one trench. The device may further include a capping layer on the word line.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a dual gate allows for the gates to have a wide variety of threshold voltages. The method includes forming a gate insulation layer, a first capping layer, and a barrier layer in the foregoing sequence across a first region and a second region on a substrate, exposing the gate insulation layer on the first region by removing the first capping layer and the barrier layer from the first region, forming a second capping layer on the gate insulation layer in the first region and on the barrier layer in the second region, and thermally processing the substrate on which the second capping layer is formed. The thermal processing causes material of the second capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the first region and material of the first capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the second region. Thus, devices having different threshold voltages can be formed in the first and second regions.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device with dual gates and a method of manufacturing the same, a dielectric layer and first and second metallic conductive layers are successively formed on the semiconductor substrate having first and second regions. The second metallic conductive layer which is formed on the first metallic conductive layer of the second region is etched to form a metal pattern. The first metallic conductive layer is etched using the metal pattern as an etching mask. A polysilicon layer is formed on the dielectric layer and the metal pattern. The first gate electrode is formed by etching portions of the polysilicon layer, the metal pattern, and the first metallic conductive layer of the first region. The second gate electrode is formed by etching a portion of the polysilicon layer formed directly on the dielectric layer of the second region.

Abstract: Provided is a simplified method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a stress creating layer. A first conductive first impurity region is formed on a semiconductor substrate on both sides of a first gate of a first area of the semiconductor substrate, and a second conductive second impurity region is formed on the semiconductor substrate on both sides of a second gate of a second area. First and second spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first and second gates, respectively. First and second semiconductor layers are formed in portions of the semiconductor substrate so as to contact the first and second impurity regions, respectively. The second semiconductor layer is removed. First and second barrier layers are formed in the first and second contact holes of the insulation layer, respectively.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices include forming a transistor on and/or in a semiconductor substrate, wherein the transistor includes a source/drain region and a gate pattern disposed on a channel region adjacent the source/drain region. An insulating layer is formed on the transistor and patterned to expose the source/drain region. A semiconductor source layer is formed on the exposed source/drain region and on an adjacent portion of the insulating layer. A metal source layer is formed on the semiconductor source layer. Annealing, is performed to form a first metal-semiconductor compound region on the source/drain region and a second metal-semiconductor compound region on the adjacent portion of the insulating layer. The first metal-semiconductor compound region may be thicker than the second metal-semiconductor compound region. The metal source layer may include a metal layer and a metal nitride barrier layer.

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: In a semiconductor device with dual gates and a method of manufacturing the same, a dielectric layer and first and second metallic conductive layers are successively formed on the semiconductor substrate having first and second regions. The second metallic conductive layer which is formed on the first metallic conductive layer of the second region is etched to form a metal pattern. The first metallic conductive layer is etched using the metal pattern as an etching mask. A polysilicon layer is formed on the dielectric layer and the metal pattern. The first gate electrode is formed by etching portions of the polysilicon layer, the metal pattern, and the first metallic conductive layer of the first region. The second gate electrode is formed by etching a portion of the polysilicon layer formed directly on the dielectric layer of the second region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that has a dual gate having different work functions is simply formed by using a selective nitridation. A gate insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region, on which devices having different threshold voltages are to be formed. A diffusion inhibiting material is selectively injected into the gate insulating layer in one of the first region and the second region. A diffusion layer is formed on the gate insulating layer. A work function controlling material is directly diffused from the diffusion layer to the gate insulating layer using a heat treatment, wherein the gate insulting layer is self-aligned capped with the selectively injected diffusion inhibiting material so that the work function controlling material is diffused into the other of the first region and the second region. The gate insulating layer is entirely exposed by removing the diffusion layer. A gate electrode layer is formed on the exposed gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor includes a fin protruding from a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating layer formed so as to cover upper and lateral surfaces of the fin, and a gate electrode formed across the fin so as to cover the gate insulating layer. An upper edge of the fin is rounded so that an electric field concentratedly applied to the upper edge of the fin through the gate electrode is dispersed. A thickness of a portion of the gate insulating layer formed on an upper surface of the fin is greater than a thickness of a portion of the gate insulating layer formed on a lateral surface of the fin, in order to reduce an electric field applied through the gate electrode.

Abstract: A recessed channel array transistor may include a substrate, a gate oxide layer, a gate electrode and source/drain regions. The substrate may have an active region and an isolation region. A recess may be formed in the active region. The gate oxide layer may be formed on the recess and the substrate. The gate oxide layer may include a first portion on an intersection between a side end of the recess and a sidewall of the active region and a second portion on a side surface of the recess. The first portion may include a thickness greater than about 70% of a thickness of the second portion. The gate electrode may be formed on the gate oxide layer. The source/drain regions may be formed in the substrate. Thus, the recessed channel array transistor may have a decreased leakage current and an increased on-current.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming an electrically conductive layer containing silicon on a substrate and forming a mask pattern on the electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive layer is selectively etched to define a first sidewall thereon, using the mask pattern as an etching mask. The first sidewall of the electrically conductive layer may be exposed to a nitrogen plasma to thereby form a first silicon nitride layer on the first sidewall. The electrically conductive layer is then selectively etched again to expose a second sidewall thereon that is free of the first silicon nitride layer. The mask pattern may be used again as an etching mask during this second step of selectively etching the electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include an isolation layer, gate electrodes, an insulating interlayer, an impurity region, a capping layer and a plug. The isolation layer may be formed in the substrate. The gate electrodes may be formed on the substrate. The insulating interlayer may be formed on the gate electrodes. The insulating interlayer may have a contact hole between the gate electrodes. The impurity region may be in the substrate exposed through the contact hole. The capping layer may be on the impurity region. The plug may be on the capping layer. Thus, the impurities may not be lost from the impurity region.

Abstract: In a fin field effect transistor (FET), an active pattern protrudes in a vertical direction from a substrate and extends across the substrate in a first horizontal direction. A first silicon nitride pattern is formed on the active pattern, and a first oxide pattern and a second silicon nitride pattern are sequentially formed on the substrate and on a sidewall of a lower portion of the active pattern. A device isolation layer is formed on the second silicon nitride pattern, and a top surface of the device isolation layer is coplanar with top surfaces of the oxide pattern and the second silicon nitride pattern. A buffer pattern having an etching selectivity with respect to the second silicon nitride pattern is formed between the first oxide pattern and the second silicon nitride pattern.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, preliminary isolation regions having protruded upper portions are formed on a substrate to define an active region. After an insulation layer is formed on the active region, a first conductive layer is formed on the insulation layer. The protruded upper portions of the preliminary isolation regions are removed to form isolation regions on the substrate and to expose sidewalls of the first conductive layer, and compensation members are formed on edge portions of the insulation layer. The compensation members may complement the edge portions of the insulation layer that have thicknesses substantially thinner than that of a center portion of the insulation layer, and may prevent deterioration of the insulation layer. Furthermore, the first conductive layer having a width substantially greater than that of the active region may enhance a coupling ratio of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has two transistors of different structure from each other. One of transistors is P-type and the other is N-type. One of the transistors includes a gate structure in which a polysilicon layer contacts a gate insulation film while the other transistor includes a gate structure in which a metal layer contacts a gate insulation film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed on a strained silicon layer and a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor device are disclosed. In accordance with this invention, a first silicon germanium layer is formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate; a second silicon germanium layer is formed on the first silicon germanium layer, the second silicon germanium layer having a concentration of germanium in a range of about 1 percent by weight to about 15 percent by weight based on the total weight of the second silicon germanium layer; a strained silicon layer is formed on the second silicon germanium layer; an isolation layer is formed at a first portion of the strained silicon layer; a gate structure is formed on the strained silicon layer; and, source/drain regions are formed at second portions of the strained silicon layer adjacent to the gate structure to form a transistor.