The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a capacitor structure, including depositing a plurality of first polysilicon (POLY) layers of uniform thickness separated by a plurality of oxide/nitride/oxide (ONO) layers over a bottom and sidewalls of a recess and substrate surface. A second POLY layer is deposited over the plurality of first POLY layers, is separated by an ONO layer, and fills a remainder of the recess. Portions of the second POLY layer and the second ONO layer are removed with a first chemical-mechanical polish (CMP). A portion of each of the plurality of first POLY layers and the first ONO layers on the surface which are not within a doped region of the capacitor structure are removed with a first pattern and etch process such that a top surface of each of the plurality of first POLY layers is exposed for contact formation.