Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure provides example embodiments relating to formation of a gate structure of a device, such as in a replacement gate process, and the device formed thereby. In an example method, a gate dielectric layer is formed over an active area on a substrate. A dummy layer that contains a passivating species (such as fluorine) is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A thermal process is performed to drive the passivating species from the dummy layer into the gate dielectric layer. The dummy layer is removed. A metal gate electrode is formed over the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes the passivating species before the metal gate electrode is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure, comprising: forming a first contact layer on an exposed active region of a first spacer; forming a second spacer at a region of the first contact layer close to a gate stack to partially cover the exposed active region; forming a second contact layer in the uncovered exposed active region, wherein when a diffusion coefficient of the first contact layer is the same as that of the second contact layer, the first contact layer has a thickness less than that of the second contact layer; and when the diffusion coefficient of the first contact layer is different from that of the second contact layer, the diffusion coefficient of the first contact layer is smaller than that of the second contact layer. Correspondingly, the present invention also provides a semiconductor structure.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a varactor includes forming a well over a substrate. The well has a first type doping. A first source region and a second source region are formed in the well, and the first source region and the second source region have a second type doping. A drain region is formed in the well, and the drain region has the first type doping. A first gate region is formed over the well between the drain region and the first source region. Moreover, a second gate region is formed over the well between the drain region and the second source region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and method of forming an integrated circuit having a memory portion minimizes an amount of oxidation of nanocluster storage elements in the memory portion. A first region of the integrated circuit has non-memory devices, each having a control electrode or gate formed of a single conductive layer of material. A second region of the integrated circuit has a plurality of memory cells, each having a control electrode of at least two conductive layers of material that are positioned one overlying another. The at least two conductive layers are at substantially a same electrical potential when operational and form a single gate electrode. In one form each memory cell gate has two polysilicon layers overlying a nanocluster storage layer.

Abstract: A switching device includes: a first layer including a carbon material having a six-member ring network structure; a first electrode electrically connected to a first portion of the first layer; a second electrode electrically connected to a second portion of the first layer and provided apart from the first electrode; a third electrode including a fourth portion provided opposing a third portion between the first portion and the second portion of the first layer; and a second layer provided between the third portion of the first layer and the fourth portion of the third electrode. The second layer includes: a base portion; and a functional group portion. The functional group portion is provided between the base portion and the first layer. The functional group portion is bonded to the base portion. A ratio of sp2-bonded carbon and sp3-bonded carbon of the first layer is changeable by a voltage applied between the first layer and the third electrode.

Abstract: The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor layer, a trench formed by digging the semiconductor layer from the surface thereof, a gate insulating film formed on the inner surface of the trench, and a gate electrode made of silicon embedded in the trench through the gate insulating film. The gate electrode has a high-conductivity portion formed to cover the gate insulating film with a relatively high conductivity and a low-conductivity portion formed on a region inside the high-conductivity portion with a relatively low conductivity.

Abstract: A first resist pattern is formed by exposure using a first multi-tone photomask, and a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer, a first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer are etched, so that an island-shaped single layer and an island-shaped stack are formed. Here, sidewalls are formed on side surfaces of the island-shaped single layer and the island-shaped stack. Further, a second resist pattern is formed by exposure using a second multi-tone photomask, and a second conductive layer and the second semiconductor layer are etched, so that a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, and a connection terminal are formed. After that, a third resist pattern is formed by exposure from a rear side using metal layers of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer as masks, and the third insulating layer are etched, so that a protective insulating layer is formed.

Abstract: A method of forming semiconductor devices includes stacking an insulating layer and a polysilicon layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a region where nitrogen (N) is scattered in a place adjacent to a surface of the polysilicon layer within the polysilicon layer using a plasma method, and depositing a doped polysilicon layer on the polysilicon layer including the region where nitrogen (N) is scattered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device manufacturing method in which a silicon nitride film is formed to cover an n-channel transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and to apply a tensile stress in a channel length direction to a channel of the n-channel transistor, the method includes: forming a first-layer silicon nitride film above the n-channel transistor; irradiating the first-layer silicon nitride film with ultraviolet radiation; and after the ultraviolet irradiation, forming at least one silicon nitride film thinner than the first-layer silicon nitride film above the first-layer silicon nitride film. Silicon nitride films formed to apply the tensile stress is formed by respective steps.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a method of forming an epitaxial film on a substrate is provided. The method includes (a) providing a substrate; (b) exposing the substrate to a silicon source and a carbon source so as to form a carbon-containing silicon epitaxial film; (c) encapsulating the carbon-containing silicon epitaxial film with an encapsulating film; and (d) exposing the substrate to Cl2 so as to etch the encapsulating film. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device manufacturing method in which a silicon nitride film is formed to cover an n-channel transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and to apply a tensile stress in a channel length direction to a channel of the n-channel transistor, the method includes: forming a first-layer silicon nitride film above the n-channel transistor; irradiating the first-layer silicon nitride film with ultraviolet radiation; and after the ultraviolet irradiation, forming at least one silicon nitride film thinner than the first-layer silicon nitride film above the first-layer silicon nitride film. Silicon nitride films formed to apply the tensile stress is formed by respective steps.

Abstract: A flash memory device includes a tunnel insulating layer formed over a semiconductor substrate, a charge trap layer formed over the tunnel insulating layer and configured to trap electric charges, a blocking insulating layer formed over the charge trap layer, and a gate electrode formed over the blocking insulating layer and including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer doped with N and P impurities respectively. Further, a method of erasing a flash memory device includes providing a flash memory device including a gate electrode having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer doped with N and P impurities respectively, and performing an erase operation in a state where a thickness of a depletion layer at an interface of a PN junction comprising the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer is increased due to a negative potential bias applied to the gate electrode.

Abstract: Polysilicon electrical depletion in a polysilicon gate electrode is reduced by depositing the polysilicon under controlled conditions so as to vary the crystal grain size through the thickness of the polysilicon. The resulting CMOS transistor may have two or more depth-wise contiguous regions of respective crystalline grain size, and the selection of grain size may be directed to maximize dopant activation in the polysilicon near the gate dielectric and to tailor the resistance of the polysilicon above that first region and more distant from the gate dielectric. A region of polycrystalline silicon may have a varying grain size as a function of a distance measured from a surface of the dielectric film.

Abstract: Threshold variability in advanced transistor elements, as well as increased leakage currents, may be reduced by incorporating a barrier material in a polysilicon gate electrode. The barrier material results in a well-controllable and well-defined metal silicide in the polysilicon gate electrode during the silicidation sequence and during the further processing by significantly reducing the diffusion of a metal species, such as nickel, into the vicinity of the gate dielectric material.

Abstract: A gate structure can include a polysilicon layer, a metal layer on the polysilicon layer, a metal silicide nitride layer on the metal layer and a silicon nitride mask on the metal silicide nitride layer

Abstract: A method for forming a gate electrode of a semiconductor device is provided wherein a hard mask layer which is a nitride film is deposited and subjected to an additional surface deposition process so that a matrix structure of a nitride film surface becomes more compact to reduce an etching ratio of the hard mask layer thereby increasing a thickness of the residual hard mask layer.

Abstract: Double gate transistors having at least two polysilicon patterns on a thin body used as an active region and methods of forming the same are provided. Embodiments of the transistors and methods provided are capable of enhancing current drivability of a semiconductor memory device using polysilicon patterns having different impurity concentrations from each other. In some embodiments an active region is protruded from a semiconductor substrate, an impurity diffusion region is formed in the active region, and a gate insulating pattern and a gate pattern are sequentially stacked on the active region. In these embodiments, the gate pattern may include polysilicon patterns having different impurity concentrations from each other.

Abstract: A method of modulating grain size in a polysilicon layer and devices fabricated with the method. The method includes forming the layer of polysilicon on a substrate; and performing an ion implantation of a polysilicon grain size modulating species into the polysilicon layer such that an average resultant grain size of the implanted polysilicon layer after performing a pre-determined anneal is higher or lower than an average resultant grain size than would be obtained after performing the same pre-determined anneal on the polysilicon layer without a polysilicon grain size modulating species ion implant.