Abstract: A method of making a gate structure includes the following steps. First, a gate is formed. Then, a first silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, and a second silicon oxide layer are formed to cover the gate from bottom to top. Later, a dry etching is performed to etch the second silicon oxide layer. After that, a wet etching is performed to etch the silicon nitride layer and the first silicon oxide layer. The aforesaid wet etching is performed by utilizing an RCA cleaning solution. Furthermore, the silicon nitride layer is formed by the SINGEN process. Therefore, the first and second silicon oxide layer and the silicon nitride layer can be etched together by the RCA cleaning solution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including a gate insulating film formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode formed over the gate insulating film, wherein the gate insulating film is so provided as to protrude from both sides of the gate electrode, and the gate electrode includes a wholly silicided layer.

Abstract: An image sensor and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A semiconductor substrate can be prepared comprising a photodiode region, a transistor region, and a floating diffusion region. A gate dielectric can be disposed under a surface of the semiconductor substrate in the transistor region. A first dielectric pattern can be provided having a portion above and a portion below the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the photodiode and the floating diffusion regions. A second dielectric can be disposed under the gate dielectric. The second dielectric can extend the depth of the gate dielectric into the semiconductor substrate to space the movement path of photoelectrons from the photodiode region to the floating diffusion region.

Abstract: A memory device may include a source region and a drain region formed in a substrate and a channel region formed in the substrate between the source and drain regions. The memory device may further include a first oxide layer formed over the channel region, the first oxide layer having a first dielectric constant, and a charge storage layer formed upon the first oxide layer. The memory device may further include a second oxide layer formed upon the charge storage layer, a layer of dielectric material formed upon the second oxide layer, the dielectric material having a second dielectric constant that is greater than the first dielectric constant, and a gate electrode formed upon the layer of dielectric material.

Abstract: An N-MOS and/or P-MOS device having enhanced performance such as an FET suitable for use in a CMOS circuit. The device comprises both an “L-like” shaped layer or spacer on the side walls of a gate structure as well as a CESL (contact-etch stop layer) that covers the gate structure and surrounding substrate to induce increase tensile stresses in the N-MOS device and increased compressive stresses in the P-MOS device.

Abstract: Provided is a charge trapping layer which has excellent memory characteristics, a method of forming the charge trapping layer, a nonvolatile memory device using the charge trapping layer, and a method of fabricating the nonvolatile memory device, in which a hybrid nanoparticle which is obtained by mixing a nanoparticle having an excellent programming characteristic with a nanoparticle having an excellent erasing characteristic is used as the charge trapping layer. The charge trapping layer for use in the nanoparticle is discontinuously formed between a tunneling oxide film and a control oxide film, and includes at least two different kinds of numerous nanoparticles.

Abstract: A highly stressed dielectric material, such as a tensile stressed material, may be deposited in a conformal manner so as to respect any deposition constraints caused by pronounced surface topography of highly scaled semiconductor devices, followed by the deposition of a buffer material having enhanced gap-filling capabilities. Thereafter, a further stress-inducing layer is deposited to form a doublet structure, which acts on the transistor elements, thereby enhancing overall performance, without increasing the probability of creating deposition-related irregularities. Hence, production yield as well as performance of highly scaled semiconductor devices may be increased.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for flatband voltage tuning of high-k field effect transistors. One embodiment of a field effect transistor includes a substrate, a high-k dielectric layer deposited on the substrate, a gate electrode deposited on the high-k dielectric layer, and a dipole layer positioned between the substrate and the gate electrode, for shifting the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor.

Abstract: A blocking dielectric engineered, charge trapping memory cell includes a charge trapping element that is separated from a gate by a blocking dielectric including a buffer layer in contact with the charge trapping element, such as silicon dioxide which can be made with high-quality, and a second capping layer in contact with said one of the gate and the channel. The capping layer has a dielectric constant that is higher than that of the first layer, and preferably includes a high-? material. The second layer also has a conduction band offset that is relatively high. A bandgap engineered tunneling layer between the channel and the charge trapping element is provided which, in combination with the multilayer blocking dielectric described herein, provides for high-speed erase operations by hole tunneling. In an alternative, a single layer tunneling layer is used.

Abstract: An upper part of a SIC substrate 1 is oxidized at a temperature of 800 to 1400° C., inclusive, in an oxygen atmosphere at 1.4×102 Pa or less, thereby forming a first insulating film 2 which is a thermal oxide film of 20 nm or less in thickness. Thereafter, annealing is performed, and then a first cap layer 3, which is a nitride film of about 5 nm in thickness, is formed thereon by CVD. A second insulating film 4, which is an oxide film of about 130 nm in thickness, is deposited thereon by CVD. A second cap layer 5, which is a nitride film of about 10 nm in thickness, is formed thereon. In this manner, a gate insulating film 6 made of the first insulating film 2 through the second cap layer 5 is formed, thus obtaining a low-loss highly-reliable semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The device comprises a first MOSFET transistor. The transistor comprises a substrate, a first high-k dielectric layer upon the substrate, a first dielectric capping layer upon the first high-k dielectric, and a first gate electrode made of a semiconductor material of a first doping level and a first conductivity type upon the first dielectric capping layer. The first dielectric capping layer comprises Scandium.

Abstract: A multiple layer tunnel insulator is fabricated between a substrate and a discrete trap layer. The properties of the multiple layers determines the volatility of the memory device. The composition of each layer and/or the quantity of layers is adjusted to fabricate either a DRAM device, a non-volatile memory device, or both simultaneously.

Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and a related semiconductor structure, as well as a method for fabricating the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and the related semiconductor structure, provide for a multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region located and formed within a base semiconductor substrate at a location beneath an interface of a buried dielectric layer with the base semiconductor substrate within the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region may comprise an ion implanted atom, such as but not limited to a noble gas atom, to provide a suppressed multiple order radio frequency harmonic when powering a radio frequency device, such as but not limited to a radio frequency complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (or alternatively a passive device), located and formed within and upon a surface semiconductor layer within the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing NAND memory cells includes providing a substrate having a first doped region formed therein; sequentially forming a first dielectric layer, a storage layer and a patterned hard mask on the substrate; forming a STI defining a plurality of recesses in the substrate through the patterned hard mask; sequentially forming a second dielectric layer and a first conductive layer filling the recesses on the substrate; and performing a planarization process to remove a portion of the first conductive layer and the second dielectric layer to form a plurality of self-aligned islanding gate structures.

Abstract: A dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film disposed in an integrated circuit and a method of fabricating such a dielectric provide a dielectric for use in a variety of electronic devices. Embodiments include a dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film arranged as one or more monolayers. Embodiments include structures for capacitors, transistors, memory devices, and electronic systems with dielectrics containing a titanium silicon oxide film, and methods for forming such structures.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, an additive gas is mixed with an etching gas to reduce a fluorine ratio of the etching gas. The etching gas having a reduced fluorine rate is utilized in the process for etching a nitride layer formed on an oxide layer to prevent the oxide layer formed below the nitride layer from being etched along with the nitride layer. The method comprises primarily etching an exposed charge storage layer using an etching gas; and secondarily etching the charge storage layer using the etching gas under a condition that a ratio of fluorine contained in the etching gas utilized in the secondary etching step is less than a ratio of fluorine contained in the etching gas utilized in the primary etching step. Thus, the tunnel insulating layer formed below the charge storage layer is not damaged when the charge storage layer is patterned.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer including a high-k dielectric material on the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer including polysilicon doped with P-type impurities on the dielectric layer, and a third conductive layer including a metal on the second conductive layer. In some devices, a first gate structure is formed in a main cell region and includes a tunnel oxide layer, a floating gate, a first high-k dielectric layer, and a control gate. The control gate includes a layer of polysilicon doped with P-type impurities and a metal layer. A second gate structure is formed outside the main cell region and includes a tunnel oxide layer, a conductive layer, and a metal layer. A third gate structure is formed in a peripheral cell region and includes a tunnel oxide, a conductive layer, and a high-k dielectric layer having a width narrower than the conductive layer. Method embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: The task of the present invention is to enable formation of a gate insulating film structure having a good-quality interface between a silicon oxide film and silicon in an interface between a high dielectric constant thin film and a silicon substrate to provide a semiconductor device and a semiconductor manufacturing method which are capable of improving interface electrical characteristics, which has been a longstanding task in practical use of a high dielectric constant insulating film. A metal layer deposition process and a heat treatment process which supply metal elements constituting a high dielectric constant film on a surface of a base silicon oxide film 103 allow the metal elements to be diffused into the base silicon oxide film 103 to thereby form an insulating film structure 105 as a gate insulating film, after forming the base silicon oxide film 103 on a surface of a silicon substrate 101.

Abstract: A gate insulating film having a high dielectric constant, a semiconductor device provided with the gate insulating film, and a method for manufacturing such film and device are provided. The semiconductor device is provided with a group 14 (IVB) semiconductor board and a first oxide layer. The first oxide layer is composed of MO2 existing on the board, where M is a first metal species selected from the group 4 (IVA); and M?xOy, where M? is a second metal species selected from the group 3 (IIIA) and a group composed of lanthanide series, and x and y are integers decided by the oxidation number of M.

Abstract: Different sized features in the array and in the periphery of an integrated circuit are patterned on a substrate in a single step. In particular, a mixed pattern, combining two separately formed patterns, is formed on a single mask layer and then transferred to the underlying substrate. The first of the separately formed patterns is formed by pitch multiplication and the second of the separately formed patterns is formed by conventional photolithography. The first of the separately formed patterns includes lines that are below the resolution of the photolithographic process used to form the second of the separately formed patterns. These lines are made by forming a pattern on photoresist and then etching that pattern into an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall pacers having widths less than the widths of the un-etched parts of the amorphous carbon are formed on the sidewalls of the amorphous carbon. The amorphous carbon is then removed, leaving behind the sidewall spacers as a mask pattern.

Abstract: A dielectric multilayer structure of a microelectronic device, in which a leakage current characteristic and a dielectric constant are improved, is provided in an embodiment. The dielectric multilayer structure includes a lower dielectric layer, which is made of amorphous silicate (M1-xSixOy) or amorphous silicate nitride (M1-xSixOyNz), and an upper dielectric layer which is formed on top of the lower dielectric layer and which is made of amorphous metal oxide (M'Oy) or amorphous metal oxynitride (M'OyNz).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a memory cell transistor including a first lower insulating film provided on a semiconductor substrate, a first intermediate insulating film provided on the first lower insulating film, a first upper insulating film provided on the first intermediate insulating film, and a first gate electrode provided on the first upper insulating film, and a select transistor including a second lower insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a second intermediate insulating film provided on the second lower insulating film, a second upper insulating film provided on the second intermediate insulating film, and a second gate electrode provided on the second upper insulating film, wherein trap density of the second intermediate insulating film is lower than that of the first intermediate insulating film.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first MOS device including a first gate, and a second MOS device including a second gate. The first gate includes a first high-k dielectric over a semiconductor substrate; a second high-k dielectric over the first high-k dielectric; a first metal layer over the second high-k dielectric, wherein the first metal layer dominates a work-function of the first MOS device; and a second metal layer over the first metal layer. The second gate includes a third high-k dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first and the third high-k dielectrics are formed of same materials, and have substantially a same thickness; a third metal layer over the third high-k dielectric, wherein the third metal layer and the second metal layer are formed of same materials, and have substantially a same thickness; and a fourth metal layer over the third metal layer.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming a fine metal pattern and a method of forming a metal line using the same. In the method of forming a fine metal pattern, a substrate is prepared where a first interlayer insulating layer is formed. A via plug is formed on the first interlayer insulating layer. A plurality of sidewall buffer patterns are formed on the first interlayer insulating layer having the via plug, wherein the plurality of the sidewall buffer patterns are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The sidewall layer is deposited on the first interlayer insulating layer and the sidewall buffer patterns. The sidewall layer is etched such that sidewall patterns remains on sidewalls of the sidewall buffer patterns.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing flash memory devices wherein, after gate lines are formed, an HDP oxide film having at least the same height as that of a floating gate is formed between the gate lines. Spacers are formed between the remaining spaces using a nitride film. Accordingly, the capacitance between the floating gates can be lowered. After an ion implantation process is performed, spacers can be removed. It is therefore possible to secure contact margin of the device.

Abstract: Method of fabricating TFTs (thin-film transistors) having a crystallized silicon film and a gate-insulating film. First, an amorphous silicon film is formed on an insulating substrate. A first dielectric film is formed from silicon oxide on the amorphous silicon film. Holes are formed in the first dielectric film to selectively expose the surface of the amorphous silicon film. Nickel is introduced as the metal element into the amorphous silicon film. The film is heat-treated, thus forming crystallized silicon film. This crystalline silicon film is etched together with the silicon oxide film to form an active layer. The etched silicon oxide film acts as the aforementioned gate-insulating film. Even after the crystallization step, the silicon oxide film is left behind. As a result, the interface with the crystalline silicon film is kept in a good state.

Abstract: The method for forming a triple gate oxide of a semiconductor device includes the steps of defining a first region, a second region and a third region, forming a first oxide film and forming a second oxide film on the first oxide film, blocking the first region and selectively removing portions the second oxide film and the first oxide film, forming a third oxide film on the semiconductor substrate, blocking the first region and the second region and selectively removing a portion of the third oxide film and forming a fourth oxide film on the semiconductor substrate and then forming a nitride film thereon, wherein a gate oxide having a triple structure is formed in the first region, a gate oxide having a double structure is formed in the second region and a gate oxide having a double structure is formed in the third region.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention includes a memory cell including, a charge storage layer on a gate insulating film, a multilayer insulator on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the multilayer insulator, the gate insulating film including a first tunnel film, a first high-dielectric-constant film on the first tunnel film and offering a greater dielectric constant than the first tunnel film, and a second tunnel film on the first high-dielectric-constant film and having the same configuration as that of the first tunnel film, the multilayer insulator including a first insulating film, a second high-dielectric-constant film on the first insulating film and offering a greater dielectric constant than the first insulating film, and a second insulating film on the second high-dielectric-constant film and having the same configuration as that of the first insulating film.

Abstract: A highly stressed dielectric material, such as a tensile stressed material, may be deposited in a conformal manner so as to respect any deposition constraints caused by pronounced surface topography of highly scaled semiconductor devices, followed by the deposition of a buffer material having enhanced gap-filling capabilities. Thereafter, a further stress-inducing layer is deposited to form a doublet structure, which acts on the transistor elements, thereby enhancing overall performance, without increasing the probability of creating deposition-related irregularities. Hence, production yield as well as performance of highly scaled semiconductor devices may be increased.

Abstract: By forming an etch control material with increased thickness on a first stressed dielectric layer in a dual stress liner approach, the surface topography may be smoothed prior to the deposition of the second stressed dielectric material, thereby allowing the deposition of an increased amount of stressed material while not contributing to yield loss caused by deposition-related defects.

Abstract: Provided are an insulator that has an energy band gap of 2 eV or more and undergoes an abrupt MIT without undergoing a structural change, a method of manufacturing the insulator, and a device using the insulator. The insulator is abruptly transitioned from an insulator phase into a metal phase by an energy change between electrons without undergoing a structural change.

Abstract: A charge holding insulating film in a memory cell is constituted by a laminated film composed of a bottom insulating film, a charge storage film, and a top insulating film on a semiconductor substrate. Further, by performing a plasma nitriding treatment to the bottom insulating film, a nitride region whose nitrogen concentration has a peak value and is 1 atoms or more is formed on the upper surface side in the bottom insulating film. The thickness of the nitride region is set to 0.5 nm or more and 1.5 nm or less, and the peak value of nitrogen concentration is set to 5 atom % or more and 40 atom % or less, and a position of the peak value of nitrogen concentration is set within 2 nm from the upper surface of the bottom insulating film, thereby suppressing an interaction between the bottom insulating film and the charge storage film.

Abstract: In one aspect, a memory cell includes a plurality of dielectric layers located within a charge storage gate structure. At least one of the dielectric layers includes an dielectric material including oxygen, and nano regions including oxygen embedded in the dielectric material, where an oxygen concentration of the dielectric material is the greater than an oxygen concentration of the nano regions. In another aspect, at least one of the dielectric layers includes a dielectric material and nano regions embedded in the dielectric material, where an atomic composition of the dielectric material is the same as the atomic composition of the nano regions, and a density of the dielectric material is the greater than a density of the nano regions.

Abstract: A multi-dielectric film including at least one first dielectric film that is a composite film made of zirconium-hafnium-oxide and at least one second dielectric film that is a metal oxide film made of amorphous metal oxide. Adjacent ones of the dielectric films are made of different materials.

Abstract: A vertical MOS transistor has a source region, a channel region, and a drain region that are vertically stacked, and a trench that extends from the top surface of the drain region through the drain region, the channel region, and partially into the source region. The vertical MOS transistor also has an insulation layer that lines the trench, and a conductive gate region that contacts the insulation layer to fill up the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes bit lines provided in a semiconductor substrate; an ONO film that is provided along the surface of the semiconductor substrate and is made of a tunnel oxide film, a trap layer, and a top oxide film; and an oxide film that is provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the middle between the bit lines and contacts the side face of the ONO film, in which the film thickness of the oxide film is larger than the sum of the thicknesses of the tunnel oxide film and the top oxide film, and smaller than the thickness of the ONO film.

Abstract: The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanolaminate dielectric of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), hafnium oxide (HfO2) and tin oxide (SnO2) acting as a single dielectric layer with a formula of Zrx Hfy Sn1-x-y O2, and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer is described that produces a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k). The dielectric structure is formed by depositing zirconium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing hafnium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing tin oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. Such a dielectric may be used as a gate insulator, a capacitor dielectric, or as a tunnel insulator in non-volatile memories, because the high dielectric constant (high k) provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device including: ONO films that are formed on a semiconductor substrate and include trapping layers; word lines that are formed on the ONO films; and silicon oxide layers that are formed at portions on the semiconductor substrate, the portions being located between the word lines, the silicon oxide layers being located between the trapping layers.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device that enables to suppress a defect density of a gate insulating film of an MISFET, gain a sufficient electric characteristic thereof, and make an Equivalent Oxide Thickness (EOT) of the gate insulating film 1.0 nm or less. The MISFETs are formed to have the gate insulating film formed on a main surface of a silicon substrate, and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film, wherein the gate insulating film includes a metal silicate layer formed by a metal oxide layer and a silicon oxide layer and the metal silicate layer is formed so as to have concentration gradients of metal and silicon from a silicon substrate side toward a gate electrode side.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and a method of fabricating a MOSFET. According to embodiments, a method of forming a MOSFET may include forming a first gate insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, nitrifying the first gate insulating layer, forming a second gate insulating layer on the first gate insulating layer, injecting fluorine ions into the second gate insulating layer, and diffusing the fluorine ions into the first gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A circuit device suitable for connecting a plurality of laminated wiring layers to each other through an insulating layer, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. According to a hybrid integrated circuit device of the present invention and a manufacturing method thereof, a first conductive film is laminated on a first insulating layer, and a first wiring layer is formed by patterning the first conductive film. Next, a second conductive film is laminated on a second insulating layer. Thereafter, by partially removing the second insulating layer and the second conductive film in a desired spot, a connection part for connecting the wiring layers to each other is formed.

Abstract: A stacked-gate structure includes a tunnel insulation film, a floating gate electrode, an inter-electrode insulation film and a control gate electrode, which are stacked on a semiconductor substrate. The inter-electrode insulation film has a three-layer structure that includes a first oxidant barrier layer, an intermediate insulation layer and a second oxidant barrier layer. Gate side-wall insulation films are formed on both side surfaces of the stacked-gate structure. The thickness of the gate side-wall insulation film increases, at a side portion of the floating gate electrode, from the inter-electrode insulation film side toward the tunnel insulation film side. The width of the floating gate electrode in a channel length direction decreases from the inter-electrode insulation film side toward the tunnel insulation film side.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device may include an intergate dielectric layer of high-K dielectric materials interposed between a charge storing layer and a control gate. The high-K materials may be deposited in such a manner that the materials are gradually graded with respect to one another.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, and a gate insulating film of a P-channel MOS transistor, formed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate insulating film has an oxide film (SiO2), and a diffusion preventive film (BN) containing boron and nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, and a gate insulating film of a P-channel MOS transistor, formed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate insulating film has an oxide film (SiO2), and a diffusion preventive film (BN) containing boron and nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention includes; a silicon oxynitride film having an oxynitride layer which is formed on at least the surface of a silicon substrate and in which nitrogen atoms are in a three-coordinate bond state, and a silicon oxide layer which is formed between said oxynitride layer and said silicon substrate.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate electrode include sequentially forming a gate insulator, a gate polysilicon layer and a metal-gate layer on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-gate layer and the gate polysilicon layer are sequentially patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a stacked gate polysilicon pattern and a metal-gate pattern. An oxidation barrier layer is formed to cover at least a portion of a sidewall of the metal-gate pattern.

Abstract: An atomic layer deposition method to deposit an oxide nanolaminate thin film is provided. The method employs a nitrate ligand in a first precursor as an oxidizer for a second precursor to form the oxide nanolaminates. Using a hafnium nitrate precursor and an aluminum precursor, the method is well suited for the deposition of a high k hafnium oxide/aluminum oxide nanolaminate dielectric for gate dielectric or capacitor dielectric applications on a hydrogen-terminated silicon surface.