Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of first semiconductor regions arranged each via a space in a direction crossing a first direction; a plurality of control gate electrodes; and a select gate electrode extending in a second direction, and the select gate electrode aligned with a control gate electrode located on an outermost side out of the plurality of control gate electrodes via the space; a first insulating layer covering the plurality of control gate electrodes and the select gate electrode, the first insulating layer provided on a side wall of the select gate electrode via the space, and a portion of the first insulating layer bridged between adjacent ones of the plurality of control gate electrodes protruding toward the space between adjacent ones of the plurality of control gate electrodes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of making a semiconductor device are disclosed. A semiconductor body, a floating gate poly and a source/drain region are provided. A metal interconnect region with a control gate node is provided that capacitively couples to the floating gate poly.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) nonvolatile memory device includes channel layers protruding perpendicular to a surface of a substrate, interlayer insulating layers and conductive layer patterns alternately formed to surround each of the channel layers, a slit formed between the channel layers, the slit penetrating the interlayer insulating layers and the conductive layer patterns, and an etch-stop layer formed on the surface of the substrate at the bottom of the slit.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; and a gate electrode disposed above the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode includes a conductive film, a metal film, and a first insulating film. In a cross sectional view of the gate electrode, at least the metal film includes a receding portion receding in a lateral direction as compared to the first insulating film, and wherein a second insulating film is disposed in the receding portion and contacts sidewalls of the metal film.

Abstract: Apparatus having a dielectric containing scandium and gadolinium can provide a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k). In an embodiment, a monolayer or partial monolayer sequence process, such as for example atomic layer deposition (ALD), can be used to form a dielectric containing gadolinium oxide and scandium oxide. In an embodiment, a dielectric structure can be formed by depositing gadolinium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing scandium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form a thin laminate structure. A dielectric containing scandium and gadolinium may be used as gate insulator of a MOSFET, a capacitor dielectric in a DRAM, as tunnel gate insulators in flash memories, as a NROM dielectric, or as a dielectric in other electronic devices, because the high dielectric constant (high k) of the film provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film.

Abstract: A NAND flash memory chip is formed by depositing two N-type polysilicon layers. The upper N-type polysilicon layer is then replaced with P-type polysilicon and barrier layer in the array area only, while maintaining the upper N-type polysilicon layer in the periphery. In this way, floating gates are substantially P-type while gates of peripheral transistors are N-type.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor and method of forming the same. The fin field effect transistor includes a semiconductor substrate having a fin structure and between two trenches with top portions and bottom portions. The fin field effect transistor further includes shallow trench isolations formed in the bottom portions of the trenches and a gate electrode over the fin structure and the shallow trench isolation, wherein the gate electrode is substantially perpendicular to the fin structure. The fin field effect transistor further includes a gate dielectric layer along sidewalls of the fin structure and source/drain electrode formed in the fin structure.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a transistor may include forming source and drain regions in a substrate, and forming a floating gate having electrically conductive nanoparticles able to accumulate electrical charge. The process may include deoxidizing part of the floating gate located on the source side, and oxidizing the space resulting from the prior deoxidation so as to form an insulating layer on the source side.

Abstract: A floating gate forming process includes the following steps. A substrate containing active areas isolated from each other by isolation structures protruding from the substrate is provided. A first conductive material is formed to conformally cover the active areas and the isolation structure. An etch back process is performed on the first conductive material to respectively form floating gates separated from each other in the active areas.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices, memory cells, and arrays of memory cells include forming a liner on a conductive material and exposing the liner to a radical oxidation process to densify the liner. The densified liner may protect the conductive material from substantial degradation or damage during a subsequent patterning process. A semiconductor device structure, according to embodiments of the disclosure, includes features extending from a substrate and spaced by a trench exposing a portion of a substrate. A liner is disposed on sidewalls of a region of at least one conductive material in each feature. A semiconductor device, according to embodiments of the disclosure, includes memory cells, each comprising a control gate region and a capping region with substantially aligning sidewalls and a charge structure under the control region.

Abstract: A floating gate forming process includes the following steps. A substrate containing active areas isolated from each other by isolation structures protruding from the substrate is provided. A first conductive material is formed to conformally cover the active areas and the isolation structure. An etch back process is performed on the first conductive material to respectively form floating gates separated from each other in the active areas.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes forming workpiece, first and second films on a substrate, processing the second films to form first and second core patterns, forming third and fourth sidewall patterns on side surfaces of the first and second core patterns via first and second sidewall patterns, and removing the first core patterns and first sidewall patterns so that the second core pattern and second to fourth sidewall patterns remain. The method includes processing the first films by transferring the second core pattern and second to fourth sidewall patterns to form third and fourth core patterns, forming fifth and sixth sidewall patterns on side surfaces of the third and fourth core patterns, removing the third core patterns so that the fourth core pattern and fifth and sixth sidewall patterns remain, and processing the workpiece film by transferring the fourth core pattern and fifth and sixth sidewall patterns.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing non-volatile memory devices including peripheral transistors with reduced and less variable gate resistance are described. In some embodiments, a NAND-type flash memory may include floating-gate transistors and peripheral transistors (or non-floating-gate transistors). The peripheral transistors may include select gate transistors (e.g., drain-side select gates and/or source-side select gates) and/or logic transistors that reside outside of a memory array region. A floating-gate transistor may include a floating gate of a first conductivity type (e.g., n-type) and a control gate including a lower portion of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type (e.g., p-type). A peripheral transistor may include a gate including a first layer of the first conductivity type, a second layer of the second conductivity type, and a cutout region including one or more sidewall diffusion barriers that extends through the second layer and a portion of the first layer.

Abstract: A method of selectively forming a germanium structure within semiconductor manufacturing processes removes the native oxide from a nitride surface in a chemical oxide removal (COR) process and then exposes the heated nitride and oxide surface to a heated germanium containing gas to selectively form germanium only on the nitride surface but not the oxide surface.

Abstract: A front-end method of fabricating nickel plated caps over copper bond pads used in a memory device. The method provides protection of the bond pads from an oxidizing atmosphere without exposing sensitive structures in the memory device to the copper during fabrication.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device and a method of forming such a device, the semiconductor device comprises a substrate of semiconductor material extending in a horizontal direction. A plurality of interlayer dielectric layers is provided on the substrate. A plurality of gate patterns is provided, each gate pattern between a neighboring lower interlayer dielectric layer and a neighboring upper interlayer dielectric layer. A vertical channel of semiconductor material extends in a vertical direction through the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the plurality of gate patterns, a gate insulating layer between each gate pattern and the vertical channel that insulates the gate pattern from the vertical channel, the vertical channel being in contact with the substrate at a contact region that comprises a semiconducting region.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. A substrate having a cell area and a periphery area is provided. An oxide material layer and a first conductive material layer are sequentially formed on the substrate in the cell and periphery areas. A patterning step is performed to form first and second stacked structures on the substrate respectively in the cell and periphery areas. First and second spacers are formed respectively on sidewalls of the first and second stacked structures. At least two first doped regions are formed in the substrate beside the first stacked structure, and two second doped regions are formed in the substrate beside the second stacked structure. A dielectric layer and a second conductive layer are formed at least on the first stacked structure. The first stacked structure, the dielectric layer, and the second conductive layer in the cell area constitute a charge storage structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to memory devices and methods for manufacturing such memory devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming a memory device with a textured electrode is provided and includes forming a silicon oxide layer on a lower electrode disposed on a substrate, forming metallic particles on the silicon oxide layer, wherein the metallic particles are separately disposed from each other on the silicon oxide layer. The method further includes etching between the metallic particles while removing a portion of the silicon oxide layer and forming troughs within the lower electrode, removing the metallic particles and remaining silicon oxide layer by a wet etch process while revealing peaks separated by the troughs disposed on the lower electrode, forming a metal oxide film stack within the troughs and over the peaks of the lower electrode, and forming an upper electrode over the metal oxide film stack.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selective one-step nitridation of semiconductor substrates is provided. Nitrogen is selectively incorporated in silicon regions of a semiconductor substrate having silicon regions and silicon oxide regions by use of a selective nitridation process. Nitrogen containing radicals may be directed toward the substrate by forming a nitrogen containing plasma and filtering or removing ions from the plasma, or a thermal nitridation process using selective precursors may be performed. A remote plasma generator may be coupled to a processing chamber, optionally including one or more ion filters, showerheads, and radical distributors, or an in situ plasma may be generated and one or more ion filters or shields disposed in the chamber between the plasma generation zone and the substrate support.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an interconnection member includes forming on a substrate a wettability changing layer containing a material in which critical surface tension is changed by giving energy; forming a depression part in the wettability changing layer by a laser ablation method using a laser of an ultraviolet region; and coating the depression part with an electrically conductive ink to form an electrically conductive part. At the same time when a pattern of the depression part is formed in the wettability changing layer, a pattern of a high surface energy area is formed as a result of the critical surface tension being changed.

Abstract: Non-volatile storage elements having a PN floating gate are disclosed herein. The floating gate may have a P? region near the tunnel oxide, and may have an N+ region near the control gate. In some embodiments, a P? region near the tunnel oxide helps provide good data retention. In some embodiments, an N+ region near the control gate helps to achieve a good coupling ratio between the control gate and floating gate. Therefore, programming of non-volatile storage elements is efficient. Also erasing the non-volatile storage elements may be efficient. In some embodiments, having a P? region near the tunnel oxide (as opposed to a strongly doped p-type semiconductor) may improve erase efficiency relative to P+.

Abstract: To control a grain growth on laminated polysilicon films, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: forming a first polysilicon film (21) on a substrate (10); forming an interlayer oxide layer (22) on a surface of the first polysilicon film (21); forming a second polysilicon film (23) in contact with the interlayer oxide layer (22) above the first polysilicon film (21); and performing annealing at a temperature higher than a film formation temperature of the first and second polysilicon films in a gas atmosphere containing nitrogen, after formation of the second polysilicon film (23).

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first insulating layer on a semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the second insulating layer. The charge storage layer includes a floating gate layer on the first insulating layer, an interface insulating layer on the floating gate layer, and a charge trap layer on the interface insulating layer, and a lower end of a conduction band of the interface insulating layer is higher than a trap level of the charge trap layer and is lower than a lower end of a conduction band of the charge trap layer.

Abstract: A NAND flash memory chip is formed by depositing two N-type polysilicon layers. The upper N-type polysilicon layer is then replaced with P-type polysilicon and barrier layer in the array area only, while maintaining the upper N-type polysilicon layer in the periphery. In this way, floating gates are substantially P-type while gates of peripheral transistors are N-type.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a transistor having a first electrically conductive gate portion along a first segment of a channel region and a second electrically conductive gate portion along a second segment of the channel region. The second electrically conductive gate portion is a different composition than the first electrically conductive gate portion. Some embodiments include a method of forming a semiconductor construction. First semiconductor material and metal-containing material are formed over a NAND string. An opening is formed through the metal-containing material and the first semiconductor material, and is lined with gate dielectric. Second semiconductor material is provided within the opening to form a channel region of a transistor. The transistor is a select device electrically coupled to the NAND string.

Abstract: In one aspect, a disclosed method of fabricating a split gate memory device includes forming a gate dielectric layer overlying an channel region of a semiconductor substrate and forming an electrically conductive select gate overlying the gate dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a counter doping region in an upper region of the substrate. A proximal boundary of the counter doping region is laterally displaced from a proximal sidewall of the select gate. The method further includes forming a charge storage layer comprising a vertical portion adjacent to the proximal sidewall of the select gate and a lateral portion overlying the counter doping region and forming an electrically conductive control gate adjacent to the vertical portion of the charge storage layer and overlying the horizontal portion of the charge storage layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a memory cell, a dummy gate electrode and an interlayer insulation film. The memory cell includes a plurality of word lines as an arrangement on a semiconductor substrate and apart from each other, and a selection transistor being apart from an end of the arrangement. The dummy gate electrode has a structure larger than a word line in the arrangement direction, and is arranged between the end of the arrangement and the selection transistor. The interlayer insulation film is existed above a region including the word line, the dummy gate electrode and the selection transistor, and between the neighboring word lines, the dummy gate electrode and the selection transistor, and has a cavity between the neighboring word lines.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device including a memory cell region including a memory cell having a charge storing layer above a gate insulating film and a control electrode above the charge storing layer via an interelectrode insulating film; and a peripheral circuit region including a peripheral element having a first polysilicon and a first insulating film above the first polysilicon; wherein the charge storing layer includes a polysilicon doped with P-type impurity including a first upper region contacting the interelectrode insulating film and having a first doped layer doped with carbon or nitrogen, and at least a portion of a region below the first doped layer is neither doped with carbon nor nitrogen, and wherein the first polysilicon includes a second upper region contacting the first insulating film and having a second doped layer doped with carbon or nitrogen, the first and the second doped layers having equal thickness.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device including memory-cell transistors located in a memory-cell region, each of the transistors including a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate and a memory-cell gate electrode including a first semiconductor film, an insulating film, and a conductive film; word lines each interconnecting the conductive film of the transistors aligned in a first direction and each including a hook-up portion located in a hook-up region located outside the memory-cell region; and an interlayer insulating film disposed on the upper surface of the memory-cell gate electrodes so as to form a gap between the memory-cell gate electrodes; wherein a second semiconductor film and a first insulating film are disposed in the hook-up region, wherein the interlayer insulating film covers an upper surface of the first insulating film and an upper surface of the plurality of word lines in the hook-up portion.

Abstract: A fabricating method for fabricating a non-volatile memory structure including the following steps is provided. A first conductive type doped layer is formed in a substrate. A plurality of stacked structures is formed on the substrate, and each of the stacked structures includes a charge storage structure. A first dielectric layer is formed on the substrate between the adjacent stacked structures. A second conductive type doped region is formed in the substrate between the adjacent charge storage structures. The second conductive type doped region has an overlap region with each of the charge storage structures. In addition, the second conductive type doped region divides the first conductive type doped layer into a plurality of first conductive type doped regions that are separated from each other. A conductive layer is formed on the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes linear patterns disposed between isolation trenches extending in a first direction in a semiconductor device and having a first crystal direction the same as the semiconductor substrate. A bridge pattern connects at least two adjacent linear patterns and includes a semiconductor material having a second crystal direction different from the first crystal direction. A first isolation layer pattern is disposed in at least one of the isolation trenches in a field region of the semiconductor substrate. Memory cells are disposed on at least one of the linear patterns.

Abstract: Fabrication of a slim split gate cell and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a first gate on a substrate, the first gate having an upper surface and a hard-mask covering the upper surface, forming an interpoly isolation layer on side surfaces of the first gate and the hard-mask, forming a second gate on one side of the first gate, with an uppermost point of the second gate below the upper surface of the first gate, removing the hard-mask, forming spacers on exposed vertical surfaces, and forming a salicide on exposed surfaces of the first and second gates.

Abstract: The nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor layer including trenches formed in a first direction, isolation layers filling the trenches, and active regions divided by the isolation layer, first insulating patterns formed on the semiconductor substrate in a second direction crossing the first direction, charge storage layer patterns formed over the respective active regions between the first insulating patterns, and second insulating patterns formed on the isolation layers between the charge storage layer patterns.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a flash memory cell in a semiconductor die includes forming a control gate stack overlying a floating gate stack in a memory region of a substrate, where the floating gate stack includes a floating gate overlying a portion of a dielectric one layer. The floating gate includes a portion of a metal one layer and the dielectric o one layer includes a first high-k dielectric material. The control gate stack can include a control gate including a portion of a metal two layer, where the metal one layer can include a different metal than the metal two layer.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor substrate; a first insulating film disposed above the semiconductor substrate; a first electrode film disposed above the first insulating film; a second insulating film disposed above the first electrode film; a second electrode film disposed above the second insulating film; a third electrode film filling a first trench and overlying the second electrode film, the first trench having a first width and a first depth and extending through the second electrode film and the second insulating film and into the first electrode film; and a first barrier metal film and a first metal film disposed above the third electrode film; wherein the third electrode film above the second electrode film has a first thickness equal to or less than ½ of the first width of the first trench.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming an underlayer film that contains atoms selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron and alkaline earth metal; and forming a silicon oxide film on the underlayer film by a CVD method or an ALD method by use of a silicon source containing at least one of an ethoxy group, a halogen group, an alkyl group and an amino group, or a silicon source of a siloxane system.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device including a substrate including a first active region and a second active region, wherein each of the first active region and second active region of the substrate are separated by from one another by an isolation region. A n-type semiconductor device is present on the first active region of the substrate, in which the n-type semiconductor device includes a first portion of a gate structure. A p-type semiconductor device is present on the second active region of the substrate, in which the p-type semiconductor device includes a second portion of the gate structure. A connecting gate portion provides electrical connectivity between the first portion of the gate structure and the second portion of the gate structure. Electrical contact to the connecting gate portion is over the isolation region, and is not over the first active region and/or the second active region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first insulating layer on a semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the second insulating layer. The charge storage layer includes a floating gate layer on the first insulating layer, an interface insulating layer on the floating gate layer, a first charge trap layer on the interface insulating layer, and a second charge trap layer on the first charge trap layer, and a trap level of the second charge trap layer is lower than a trap level of the first charge trap layer.

Abstract: A method for processing a carrier accordance with various embodiments may include: forming a structure over the carrier, the structure including at least two adjacent structure elements arranged at a first distance between the same; depositing a spacer layer over the structure, wherein the spacer layer may be deposited having a thickness greater than half of the first distance, wherein the spacer layer may include electrically conductive spacer material; removing a portion of the spacer layer, wherein spacer material of the spacer layer may remain in a region between the at least two adjacent structure elements; and electrically contacting the remaining spacer material.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.

Abstract: Semiconductor structure including an etch stop material between a substrate and a stack of alternating insulating materials and first conductive materials, wherein the etch stop material comprises an amorphous aluminum oxide on the substrate and a crystalline aluminum oxide on the amorphous aluminum oxide; a channel material extending through the stack; and a second conductive material between the channel material and at least one of the first conductive materials in the stack of alternating insulating materials and first conductive materials, wherein the second conductive material is not between the channel material and the etch stop material. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating such semiconductor structures.

Abstract: Provided is a nonvolatile memory device including a common source. The device includes a first active region crossing a second active region, a common source disposed in the second active region, and a source conductive line disposed on the common source in parallel to the common source. The source conductive line is electrically connected to the common source.

Abstract: A method comprises: forming a semiconductor device on a base substrate, the semiconductor device having a core metal positioned proximate a source and a drain in the base substrate, a work function metal on a portion of the core metal, and a dielectric layer on a portion of the work function metal; forming a metal gate in electrical communication with one of the source and the drain; and implanting an insulator film on the core metal of the semiconductor device. The insulator film on the core metal forms an insulative barrier across the metal gate and between the core metal of the semiconductor device and the source or the drain.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method, the method including: forming an insulation layer having a protruding portion, the insulation layer having a surface and a rising surface that protrudes upward from the surface, on a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive layer to cover the insulation layer having the protruding portion; and removing a predetermined region of the conductive layer by patterning the predetermined region according to an etching process using microwave plasma, which uses a microwave as a plasma source, while applying bias power of 70 mW/cm2 or above on the semiconductor substrate, under a high pressure condition of 85 mTorr or above.

Abstract: A phase change memory device that utilizes a nanowire structure. Usage of the nanowire structure permits the phase change memory device to release its stress upon amorphization via the minimization of reset resistance and threshold resistance.

Abstract: A method includes patterning a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) layers to form an MTJ cell, and forming a dielectric cap layer over a top surface and on a sidewall of the MTJ cell. The step of patterning and the step of forming the dielectric cap layer are in-situ formed in a same vacuum environment. A plasma treatment is performed on the dielectric cap layer to transform the dielectric cap layer into a treated dielectric cap layer, whereby the treated dielectric cap layer improves protection from H2O or O2, and thus degradation.

Abstract: It is an object to solve inhibition of miniaturization of an element and complexity of a manufacturing process thereof. It is another object to provide a nonvolatile memory device and a semiconductor device having the memory device, in which data can be additionally written at a time besides the manufacturing time and in which forgery caused by rewriting of data can be prevented. It is further another object to provide an inexpensive nonvolatile memory device and semiconductor device. A memory element is manufactured in which a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer that is beside the first conductive layer, and conductive fine particles of each surface which is covered with an organic film are deposited over an insulating film. The conductive fine particles are deposited between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A memory device or electronic system may include a memory cell body extending from a substrate, a self-aligned floating gate separated from the memory cell body by a tunneling dielectric film, and a control gate separated from the self-aligned floating gate by a blocking dielectric film. The floating gate is flanked by the memory cell body and the control gate to form a memory cell, and the self-aligned floating gate is at least as thick as the control gate. Methods for building such a memory device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method and an operating method for the same are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a doped region and a stack structure. The doped region is in the substrate. The stack structure is on the substrate. The stack structure comprises a dielectric layer, an electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer and an ion supplying layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-volatile memory cells with increased programming efficiency. An apparatus is disclosed that includes a control gate formed over a portion of a floating gate formed over a semiconductor substrate. The control gate includes a source side sidewall spacer adjacent a source region in the semiconductor substrate and a drain side sidewall spacer, the floating gate having an upper surface portion adjacent the source region that is not covered by the control gate; an inter-poly dielectric over the source side sidewall spacer and the upper surface of the floating gate adjacent the source region; and an erase gate formed over the source region and overlying the inter-poly dielectric, and adjacent the source side sidewall of the control gate, the erase gate overlying at least a portion of the upper surface of the floating gate adjacent the source region. Methods for forming the apparatus are provided.