Abstract: A method and control system for determining stress in a substrate. The method includes determining a measured position difference between a measured position of at least one first feature and a measured position of at least one second feature which have been applied on a substrate, and determining local stress in the substrate from the measured position difference.

Abstract: A method for selective formation of a gallium nitride material on a (100) silicon substrate. The method includes forming a blanket layer of dielectric material on a surface of a (100) silicon substrate. The blanket layer of dielectric material is then patterned forming a plurality of patterned dielectric material structures on silicon substrate. An etch is employed that selectively removes exposed portions of the silicon substrate. The etch forms openings within the silicon substrate that expose a surface of the silicon substrate having a (111) crystal plane. A contiguous AlN buffer layer is then formed on exposed surfaces of each patterned dielectric material structure and on exposed surfaces of the silicon substrate. A gallium nitride material is then formed on a portion of the contiguous AlN buffer layer and surrounding each sidewall of each patterned dielectric material structure.

Abstract: A method including providing a plurality of fins etched from a semiconductor substrate and covered by an oxide layer and a nitride layer, the oxide layer being located between the plurality of fins and the nitride layer, removing a portion of the plurality of fins to form an opening, and forming a dielectric spacer on a sidewall of the opening. The method may also include filling the opening with a fill material, wherein a top surface of the fill material is substantially flush with a top surface of the nitride layer, removing the nitride layer to form a gap between the plurality of fins and the fill material, wherein the fill material has re-entrant geometry extending over the gap, and removing the re-entrant geometry and causing the gap between the plurality of fins and the fill material to widen.

Abstract: Memory cell structures, including PSOIs, NANDs, NORs, FinFETs, etc., and methods of fabrication have been described that include a method of epitaxial silicon growth. The method includes providing a silicon layer on a substrate. A dielectric layer is provided on the silicon layer. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer to expose the silicon layer, the trench having trench walls in the <100> direction. The method includes epitaxially growing silicon between trench walls formed in the dielectric layer.

Abstract: An embedded source/drain MOS transistor and a formation method thereof are provided. The embedded source/drain MOS transistor comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a gate structure on the semiconductor substrate; and a source/drain stack embedded in the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the gate structure with an upper surface of the source/drain stack being exposed, wherein the source/drain stack comprises a dielectric layer and a semiconductor layer above the dielectric layer. The present invention can cut off the path for the leakage current from the source region and the drain region to the semiconductor substrate, thereby reducing the leakage current from the source region and the drain region to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A FinFET comprises an isolation region formed in a substrate, a cloak-shaped active region formed over the substrate, wherein the cloak-shaped active region has an upper portion protruding above a top surface of the isolation region. In addition, the FinFET comprises a gate electrode wrapping the channel of the cloak-shaped active region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a top surface having a first contact, a bottom surface having a second contact, a via hole penetrating a substrate, an insulation layer structure on a sidewall of the via hole, the insulation layer structure having an air gap therein, a through electrode having an upper surface and a lower surface on the insulation layer structure, the through electrode filling the via hole and the lower surface being the second contact, and a metal wiring electrically connected to the upper surface of the through electrode and electrically connected to the first contact.

Abstract: A method and structure of an embedded stressor in a semiconductor transistor device having a sigma-shaped channel sidewall and a vertical isolation sidewall. The embedded stressor structure is made by a first etch to form a recess in a substrate having a gate and first and second spacers. The second spacers are removed and a second etch creates a step in the recess on a channel sidewall. An anisotropic etch creates facets in the channel sidewall of the recess. Where the facets meet, a vertex is formed. The depth of the vertex is determined by the second etch depth (step depth). The lateral position of the vertex is determined by the thickness of the first spacers. A semiconductor material having a different lattice spacing than the substrate is formed in the recess to achieve the embedded stressor structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is made by providing a first semiconductor wafer having semiconductor die. A gap is made between the semiconductor die. An insulating material is deposited in the gap. A portion of the insulating material is removed to form a first through hole via (THV). A conductive lining is conformally deposited in the first THV. A solder material is disposed above the conductive lining of the first THV. A second semiconductor wafer having semiconductor die is disposed over the first wafer. A second THV is formed in a gap between the die of the second wafer. A conductive lining is conformally deposited in the second THV. A solder material is disposed above the second THV. The second THV is aligned to the first THV. The solder material is reflowed to form the conductive vias within the gap. The gap is singulated to separate the semiconductor die.

Abstract: A FinFET and nanowire transistor with strain direction optimized in accordance with the sideface orientation and carrier polarity and an SMT-introduced manufacturing method for achieving the same are provided. A semiconductor device includes a pMISFET having a semiconductor substrate, a rectangular solid-shaped semiconductor layer formed at upper part of the substrate to have a top surface parallel to a principal plane of the substrate and a sideface with a (100) plane perpendicular to the substrate's principal plane, a channel region formed in the rectangular semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film formed at least on the sideface of the rectangular layer, a gate electrode on the gate insulator film, and source/drain regions formed in the rectangular semiconductor layer to interpose the channel region therebetween. The channel region is applied a compressive strain in the perpendicular direction to the substrate principal plane. A manufacturing method of the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device which can reduce on-resistance by improving hole mobility of a channel region. A trench gate type MOSFET (semiconductor device) is provided with a p+-type silicon substrate whose crystal plane of a main surface is a (110) plane; an epitaxial layer formed on the silicon substrate; a trench, which is formed on the epitaxial layer and includes a side wall parallel to the thickness direction (Z direction) of the silicon substrate; a gate electrode formed inside the trench through a gate dielectric film; an n-type channel region formed along the side wall of the trench; and a p+-type source region and a p?-type drain region which are formed to sandwich the channel region in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the silicon substrate. The trench is formed to have the crystal plane of the side wall as a (110) plane.

Abstract: Method of patterning a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The method involves crystallographic etching techniques to enhance a patterned monocrystalline layer as a hard mask. In one embodiment, the method includes bonding a monocrystalline silicon layer to a non-crystalline protective layer; patterning the monocrystalline layer to form a hard mask; enhancing the pattern of the hard mask; stripping the hard mask after conventional etching of protective layer; and forming a gate oxide thereon. The enhanced patterning of the hard mask is performed with crystallographic etching to replace optical effects of rounding and dimension narrowing at the ends of a defined region with straight edges and sharp corners. A resulting structure from the use of the enhanced patterned hard mask includes a layer of composite materials on the substrate of the semiconductor structure. The layer of composite materials includes different materials in discrete blocks defined by straight edges within the layer.

Abstract: Prototype semiconductor structures each including a semiconductor link portion and two adjoined pad portions are formed by lithographic patterning of a semiconductor layer on a dielectric material layer. The sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions are oriented to maximize hole mobility for a first-type semiconductor structures, and to maximize electron mobility for a second-type semiconductor structures. Thinning by oxidation of the semiconductor structures reduces the width of the semiconductor link portions at different rates for different crystallographic orientations. The widths of the semiconductor link portions are predetermined so that the different amount of thinning on the sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions result in target sublithographic dimensions for the resulting semiconductor nanowires after thinning.

Abstract: An isolation structure comprising a substrate is provided. A trench is in the substrate. A sidewall of the trench has a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The first inclined surface is located on the second inclined surface. The slope of the first inclined surface is different from the slope of the second inclined surface. A length of the first inclined surface is greater than 15 nanometers.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a SiC film, forming trenches at a surface of the SiC film, heat-treating the SiC film with silicon supplied to the surface of the SiC film, and obtaining a plurality of macrosteps to constitute channels, at the surface of the SiC film by the step of heat-treating. Taking the length of one cycle of the trenches as L and the height of the trenches as h, a relation L=h(cot ?+cot ?) (where ? and ? are variables that satisfy the relations 0.5??, ??45) holds between the length L and the height h. Consequently, the semiconductor device can be improved in property.

Abstract: An isolation structure comprising a substrate is provided. A trench is in the substrate. A sidewall of the trench has a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The first inclined surface is located on the second inclined surface. The slope of the first inclined surface is different from the slope of the second inclined surface. A length of the first inclined surface is greater than 15 nanometers.

Abstract: A finFET and its method for fabrication include a gate electrode formed over a channel region of a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor fin has a crystallographic orientation and an axially specific piezoresistance coefficient. The gate electrode is formed with an intrinsic stress determined to influence, and preferably optimize, charge carrier mobility within the channel region. To that end, the intrinsic stress preferably provides induced axial stresses within the gate electrode and semiconductor fin channel region that complement the axially specific piezoresistance coefficient.

Abstract: Memory cell structures, including PSOIs, NANDs, NORs, FinFETs, etc., and methods of fabrication have been described that include a method of epitaxial silicon growth. The method includes providing a silicon layer on a substrate. A dielectric layer is provided on the silicon layer. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer to expose the silicon layer, the trench having trench walls in the <100> direction. The method includes epitaxially growing silicon between trench walls formed in the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid orientation semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate structure that contains a base semiconductor substrate with one or more first device regions and one or more second device regions located over the base semiconductor substrate. The one or more first device regions include an insulator layer with a first semiconductor device layer located atop. The one or more second device regions include a counter-doped semiconductor layer with a second semiconductor device layer located atop. The first and the second semiconductor device layers have different crystallographic orientations. Preferably, the first (or the second) device regions are n-FET device regions, and the first semiconductor device layer has a crystallographic orientation that enhances electron mobility, while the second (or the first) device regions are p-FET device regions, and the second semiconductor device layer has a different surface crystallographic orientation that enhances hole mobility.

Abstract: A reference leak (10) includes a first substrate (20), a second substrate (40) disposed and bonded on the first substrate, and predetermined numbers of leak channels (14) defined in at least one of the first and second substrates. Oblique walls of the leak channels are formed by crystal planes of the at least one of the first and second substrates, the oblique walls thereby being aligned according to such crystal planes. A method for making a reference leak is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate; depositing a dielectric on the substrate; depositing an isolation dielectric on the dielectric; forming a trench through the isolation dielectric and the dielectric to expose the substrate; depositing a dielectric liner over the integrated circuit system; processing the dielectric liner to form a trench spacer; and depositing an epitaxial growth within the trench that includes a crystalline orientation that is substantially identical to the substrate.

Abstract: A finFET and its method for fabrication include a gate electrode formed over a channel region of a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor fin has a crystallographic orientation and an axially specific piezoresistance coefficient. The gate electrode is formed with an intrinsic stress determined to influence, and preferably optimize, charge carrier mobility within the channel region. To that end, the intrinsic stress preferably provides induced axial stresses within the gate electrode and semiconductor fin channel region that complement the axially specific piezoresistance coefficient.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region formed on a semiconductor substrate, an element isolation region formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to surround the active region, and a gate electrode formed on the active region. A region that causes tensile stress so as to improve carrier mobility in the active region is provided in the element isolation region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor mesa located upon an isolating substrate. The semiconductor mesa includes a first end that includes a first doped region separated from a second end that includes a second doped region by an isolating region interposed therebetween. The first doped region and the second doped region are of different polarity. The semiconductor structure also includes a channel stop dielectric layer located upon a horizontal surface of the semiconductor mesa over the second doped region. The semiconductor structure also includes a first device located using a sidewall and a top surface of the first end as a channel region, and a second device located using the sidewall and not the top surface of the second end as a channel. A related method derives from the foregoing semiconductor structure. Also included is a semiconductor circuit that includes the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having SiC vertical trench MOSFETs, it is aimed to prevent the generation of large scattering in the channel resistance without largely increasing the average value of channel resistance. A 4H-SiC substrate having a major face thereof that is generally a {0001} face and having an off angle ?. The trench is formed with the standard deviation ? in scattering of the angle formed by a trench side wall face and a substrate major face within a wafer face. By setting the designed value of the angle formed by the trench side wall face and the substrate major face at an any angle ranging from [(60 degrees)+2?] to [(90 degrees)?tan?1 (0.87×tan ?)?2?] in forming the trench in the SiC substrate, a semiconductor device in which the angle formed by the trench side wall face and the substrate major face is 60 degrees or more but not more than [(90 degrees)?tan?1 (0.87×tan ?)] can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor wafer comprising an insulated board of sapphire or the like having translucency, which is provided with a positioning orientation flat at a peripheral portion thereof, and a silicon thin film formed over the entire one surface of the insulated board. In the semiconductor wafer, ions are implanted in an area containing the orientation flat at a peripheral portion of the silicon thin film to amorphize silicon. Thus, the translucency at the amorphized spot is eliminated and accurate positioning using the conventional optical sensor can be performed.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention provide a device, method, etc. for a dual stress STI. A semiconductor device is provided having a substrate with a first transistor region and a second transistor region different than the first transistor region. The first transistor region includes a PFET; and, the second transistor region includes an NFET. Further, STI regions are provided in the substrate adjacent sides of and positioned between the first transistor region and the second transistor region, wherein the STI regions each include a compressive region, a compressive liner, a tensile region, and a tensile liner.

Abstract: A device and method of reducing residual STI corner defects in a hybrid orientation transistor comprising, forming a direct silicon bonded substrate wherein a second silicon layer with a second crystal orientation is bonded to a handle substrate with a first crystal orientation, forming a pad oxide layer on the second silicon layer, forming a nitride layer on the pad oxide layer, forming an isolation trench within the direct silicon bonded substrate through the second silicon layer and into the handle substrate, patterning a PMOS region of the direct silicon bonded substrate utilizing photoresist including a portion of the isolation trench, implanting and amorphizing an NMOS region of the direct silicon bonded substrate, removing the photoresist, performing solid phase epitaxy, performing a recrystallization anneal, forming an STI liner, completing front end processing, and performing back end processing.

Abstract: A memory cell includes a semiconductor feature and a phase change material. The semiconductor feature defines a groove that divides the semiconductor feature into a first electrode and a second electrode. The phase change material at least partially fills this groove and acts to electrically couple the first and second electrodes. At least a portion of the phase change material is operative to switch between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of a switching signal to at least one of the first and second electrodes. The semiconductor feature comprises silicon and the groove comprises at least one silicon sidewall with a substantially <111> crystal plane orientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor substrate comprising at least first and second device regions, wherein the first device region comprises a first recess having interior surfaces oriented along a first set of equivalent crystal planes, and wherein the second device region comprises a second recess having interior surfaces oriented along a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. A semiconductor device structure can be formed using such a semiconductor substrate. Specifically, at least one n-channel field effect transistor (n-FET) can be formed at the first device region, which comprises a channel that extends along the interior surfaces of the first recess. At least one p-channel field effect transistor (p-FET) can be formed at the second device region, which comprises a channel that extends along the interior surfaces of the second recess.

Abstract: A deep n-well is formed beneath the area of a capacitor structure. The use of a deep n-well lessens the parasitic capacitance by placing a diode in series with the interlayer dielectric cap. The deep n-well also reduces substrate noise. Once the n-well is implanted and annealed, a cross hatch of shallow trench isolation is patterned over the n-well. The shallow trench isolation reduces and confines the inductively and/or capacitively coupled surface currents to small areas that are then isolated from the rest of the chip.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, which is intended to prevent data destruction by movements of electric charges between floating gates and thereby improve the reliability, includes element isolation/insulation films buried into a silicon substrate to isolate stripe-shaped element-forming regions. Formed on the substrate are a floating gate via a first gate insulating film and further a control gate via a second gate insulating film. Source and drain diffusion layers are formed in self-alignment with control gates. The second gate insulating film on the floating gate is divided and separated together with the floating gate by slits above the element isolation/insulation films into discrete portions of individual memory cells.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a thin film transistor having a high mobility and having fewer fluctuations in the mobility or threshold voltage characteristics. A non-single-crystal semiconductor thin film having a thickness of less than 50 nm and disposed on an insulating substrate is irradiated with laser light having an inverse-peak-patterned light intensity distribution to grow crystals unidirectionally in a lateral direction. Thus, band-like crystal grains having a dimension in a crystal growth direction, which is longer than a width, are arranged adjacent to each other in a width direction to form a crystal grain array. A source region and a drain region of a TFT are formed so that a current flows in the crystal growth direction in an area including a plurality of crystal grains of this crystal grain array.

Abstract: A method of forming a raised source/drain proximate a spacer of a gate of a transistor on a substrate, and a semiconductor device of an integrated circuit employing the same. In one embodiment, the method includes orienting the gate substantially along a <100> direction of the substrate. The method also includes providing a semiconductor material adjacent the spacer of the gate to form a raised source/drain layer of the raised source/drain oriented substantially along a <100> direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A vacuum sealed SAW pressure sensor is disclosed herein, which includes a sensing element configured as a SAW device (e.g., SAW resonator or SAW delay line) supported by a thin diaphragm. The substrate material can be implemented as a quartz wafer (i.e., a “base” wafer). The SAW device can be configured on one side of the wafer and the diaphragm etched on the opposite side. A quartz micromachined pressure sensor can thus be realized, which operates based on a variation of the surface wave velocity of a SAW device situated on the thin diaphragm. The SAW sensor is generally sealed in a vacuum and diaphragm sustains the sensor, thereby implementing a sensor on a wafer scale while allowing for a cost reduction per chip.

Abstract: An object is to enhance the orientation ratio of a crystalline semiconductor film obtained by crystallizing an amorphous semiconductor film while using as a substrate a less-heat-resistive material such as glass thereby providing a semiconductor device using a crystalline semiconductor film with high quality equivalent to a single crystal. A first crystalline semiconductor film and a second crystalline semiconductor film are formed overlying a substrate, which integrally structure a crystalline semiconductor layer. The first and second crystalline semiconductor films are polycrystalline bodies aggregated with a plurality of crystal grains. However, the crystal grains are aligned toward a (101)-plane orientation at a ratio of 30 percent or greater, preferably 80 percent or greater.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device that excels in the manufacturing efficiency and device reliability, and a method for the manufacture thereof. The side of a device is composed of scribed grooves 13 and a cleavage plane 100.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell region in a surface portion of the substrate for operating as a transistor, a gate lead wiring region having a gate lead pattern on the substrate, a trench in the surface portion of the substrate extending from the cell region to the gate lead wiring region, an oxide film on an inner surface of the trench, and a gate electrode in the trench insulated with at least the oxide film from the substrate. A speed of formation of a main portion of the sidewalls of the trench at the gate lead wiring region is greater than that of a main portion of the sidewalls of the trench at the cell region, so that a thickness of the oxide film at the gate lead wiring region is greater than that at the cell region.

Abstract: Improved methods and structures are provided that are lateral to surfaces with a (110) crystal plane orientation such that an electrical current of such structures is conducted in the <110> direction. Advantageously, improvements in hole carrier mobility of approximately 50% can be obtained by orienting the structure's channel in a (110) plane such that the electrical current flow is in the <110> direction. Moreover, these improved methods and structures can be used in conjunction with existing fabrication and processing techniques with minimal or no added complexity.

Abstract: In a BJT, the extrinsic base to collector capacitance is reduced by forming a lateral trench between the extrinsic base region and collector. This is typically done by using an anisotropic wet etch process in a <110> direction of a <100> orientation wafer.

Abstract: Improved methods and structures are provided that are lateral to surfaces with a (110) crystal plane orientation such that an electrical current of such structures is conducted in the <110> direction. Advantageously, improvements in hole carrier mobility of approximately 50% can be obtained by orienting the structure's channel in a (110) plane such that the electrical current flow is in the <110> direction. Moreover, these improved methods and structures can be used in conjunction with existing fabrication and processing techniques with minimal or no added complexity.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a semiconductor layer, includes: a first impurity atom having a covalent bond radius larger than a minimum radius of a covalent bond of a semiconductor constituent atom of a semiconductor layer; and a second impurity atom having a covalent bond radius smaller than a maximum radius of the covalent bond of the semiconductor constituent atom; wherein the first and second impurity atoms are arranged in a nearest neighbor lattice site location and at least one of the first and second impurity atoms is electrically active.

Abstract: A thin film made of silicon or another IV-group crystals (crystals and mixed crystals of C, Ge, Sn, and Pb) is twice scanned with a laser beam moving in two lateral directions in which crystal grains grow larger in order to form high-quality polycrystals in exact positions in the thin film, while defects uncontrollable by the prior arts are being reduced significantly, to realize a high-quality TFT device. The laser-scanning directions are defined by the crystallization face orientations.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming first and second transistors over first and second well regions, respectively where the first transistor has a first gate dielectric and the second transistor has a second gate dielectric different from the first gate dielectric. The first transistor has a first gate electrode and the second transistor has a second gate electrode. The first and second gate electrodes are the same in composition. The first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric may both include high-K dielectrics such as Hafnium oxide and Aluminum oxide. The first and second gate electrodes both include a gate electrode layer overlying the respective gate dielectrics. The gate electrode layer is preferably either TaSiN and TaC. The first and second gate electrodes may both include a conductive layer overlying the gate electrode layer. In one such embodiment, the conductive layer may include polysilicon and tungsten.

Abstract: In a semiconductor apparatus, a plurality of HBTs (heterojunction bipolar transistors) are formed on a front surface consisting of a (100) crystal plane of a GaAs substrate. Via holes passing thorough the GaAs substrate are formed in proximity of the HBTs. Each via hole has a rectangular-shaped hole edge at the front surface side of the GaAs substrate. The longitudinal direction of the hole edge on the surface side of the via hole is parallel to the [011] direction of crystal orientation of the GaAs substrate. A width of the via hole in a direction perpendicular to the [011] direction of crystal orientation is larger at the back surface of the substrate than at the front surface thereof.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor wafer having crystal orientations of a wafer for the support substrate and a wafer for the device formation shifted from each other, wherein two kinds of wafers having different crystal orientations in which a notch or an orientation flat is to be provided do not need to be prepared. One of two semiconductor wafers having a notch or an orientation flat provided in the same crystal orientation <110> is set to be a wafer (1) for the support substrate and the other is set to be a wafer for the device formation. Both wafers are bonded with the notches or orientation flats shifted from each other (for example, a crystal orientation <100> of the wafer for the device formation and the crystal orientation <110> of the wafer (1) for the support substrate are set to the same direction). The wafer for the device formation is divided to obtain an SOI layer (3). A MOS transistor (TR1) or the like is formed on the SOI layer (3).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor substrate has a main surface that is an Si{100} surface. The substrate has a trench in the main surface. The semiconductor layer is located on surfaces defining the trench to have common crystallographic planes with the semiconductor substrate. The trench is defined by a bottom surface, two long sidewall surfaces that face each other, and two short sidewall surfaces that face each other. The bottom surface and the long sidewall surfaces are Si{100} surfaces.

Abstract: Forming of a first silicon oxide film is started on an internal surface of a trench formed on a surface or upwardly of a semiconductor substrate according to an HDP technique. Then, deposition of the first silicon oxide film stops before an opening of the trench closes. Further, the first silicon oxide film deposited in the vicinity of an opening is etched, and a second silicon oxide film is formed on the first silicon oxide film deposited on the bottom of the trench according to the HDP technique. In this manner, the first and second silicon oxide films can be laminated on the bottom of the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method for filling structural gaps includes depositing a substantially boron free silicon oxide comprising material at a first average deposition rate over an exposed semiconductive material in a gap between wordline constructions and at a second average deposition rate less than the first average deposition rate over the wordline constructions. A reduced gap having a second aspect ratio less than or equal to a first aspect ratio of the original gap may be provided. An integrated circuit includes a pair of wordline constructions separated by a gap therebetween in areas where the wordline constructions do not cover an underlying semiconductive substrate. A layer of substantially boron free silicon oxide material has a first thickness over the substrate within the gap and has a second thickness less than the first thickness over the wordline constructions.

Abstract: Systems for electrically isolating portions of wafers are provided. A representative system includes a first wafer and a first conductor formed at least partially through the first wafer. A first conductor insulating layer is formed at least partially through the first wafer. The first conductor insulating layer engages the first conductor and is disposed between the first conductor and material of the first wafer. A first outer insulating layer also is provided that is formed at least partially through the first wafer. The first outer insulating layer is spaced from the first conductor insulating layer. Both the first conductor insulating layer and the first outer insulating layer are formed of dielectric material. Methods also are provided.