Abstract:
Embodiments of a non-planar memory device including a split charge-trapping region and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the device comprises: a channel formed from a thin film of semiconducting material overlying a surface on a substrate connecting a source and a drain of the memory device; a tunnel oxide overlying the channel; a split charge-trapping region overlying the tunnel oxide, the split charge-trapping region including a bottom charge-trapping layer comprising a nitride closer to the tunnel oxide, and a top charge-trapping layer, wherein the bottom charge-trapping layer is separated from the top charge-trapping layer by a thin anti-tunneling layer comprising an oxide. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An embodiment of a method of integration of a non-volatile memory device into a logic MOS flow is described. Generally, the method includes: forming a pad dielectric layer of a MOS device above a first region of a substrate; forming a channel of the memory device from a thin film of semiconducting material overlying a surface above a second region of the substrate, the channel connecting a source and drain of the memory device; forming a patterned dielectric stack overlying the channel above the second region, the patterned dielectric stack comprising a tunnel layer, a charge-trapping layer, and a sacrificial top layer; simultaneously removing the sacrificial top layer from the second region of the substrate, and the pad dielectric layer from the first region of the substrate; and simultaneously forming a gate dielectric layer above the first region of the substrate and a blocking dielectric layer above the charge-trapping layer.
Abstract:
An embodiment of a semiconductor memory device including a multi-layer charge storing layer and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the device includes a channel formed from a semiconducting material overlying a surface on a substrate connecting a source and a drain of the memory device; a tunnel oxide layer overlying the channel; and a multi-layer charge storing layer including an oxygen-rich, first oxynitride layer on the tunnel oxide layer in which a stoichiometric composition of the first oxynitride layer results in it being substantially trap free, and an oxygen-lean, second oxynitride layer on the first oxynitride layer in which a stoichiometric composition of the second oxynitride layer results in it being trap dense. In one embodiment, the device comprises a non-planar transistor including a gate having multiple surfaces abutting the channel, and the gate comprises the tunnel oxide layer and the multi-layer charge storing layer.
Abstract:
A method of making a semiconductor structure comprises forming an oxide layer on a substrate; forming a silicon nitride layer on the oxide layer; annealing the layers in NO; and annealing the layers in ammonia. The equivalent oxide thickness of the oxide layer and the silicon nitride layer together is at most 25 Angstroms.
Abstract:
A semiconductor structure and method to form the same. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a non-volatile charge trap memory device disposed on a first region and a logic device disposed on a second region. A charge trap dielectric stack may be formed subsequent to forming wells and channels of the logic device. HF pre-cleans and SC1 cleans may be avoided to improve the quality of a blocking layer of the non-volatile charge trap memory device. The blocking layer may be thermally reoxidized or nitridized during a thermal oxidation or nitridation of a logic MOS gate insulator layer to densify the blocking layer. A multi-layered liner may be utilized to first offset a source and drain implant in a high voltage logic device and also block silicidation of the nonvolatile charge trap memory device.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for programming and sensing a bi-nitride layer trapped-charge memory device in one of a first and second programmed states or one of a first and second erased states, where the first and second programmed states correspond to first and second uniform trapped charge distributions of a first charge type and the first and second erased states correspond to first and second uniform trapped charge distributions of a second charge type.
Abstract:
A semiconductor topography is provided which includes a silicon dioxide layer with a thickness equal to or less than approximately 10 angstroms and a silicon nitride layer arranged upon the silicon dioxide layer. In addition, a method is provided which includes growing an oxide film upon a semiconductor topography in the presence of an ozonated substance and depositing a silicon nitride film upon the oxide film. In some embodiments, the method may include growing the oxide film in a first chamber at a first temperature and transferring the semiconductor topography from the first chamber to a second chamber while the semiconductor topography is exposed to a substantially similar temperature as the first temperature. In either embodiment, the method may be used to form a semiconductor device including an oxide-nitride gate dielectric having an electrical equivalent oxide gate dieletric thickness of less than approximately 20 angstroms.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes first forming a tunnel dielectric layer on a substrate in a first process chamber of a single-wafer cluster tool. A charge-trapping layer is then formed on the tunnel dielectric layer in a second process chamber of the single-wafer cluster tool. A top dielectric layer is then formed on the charge-trapping layer in the second or in a third process chamber of the single-wafer cluster tool.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a PMOS transistor having a gate stack comprising a P+ doped gate polysilicon layer and a nitrided gate oxide (NGOX) layer. The NGOX layer may be over a silicon substrate. The integrated circuit further includes an interconnect line formed over the transistor. The interconnect line includes a hydrogen getter material and may comprise a single material or stack of materials. The interconnect line advantageously getters hydrogen (e.g., H2 or H2O) that would otherwise be trapped in the NGOX layer/silicon substrate interface, thereby improving the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) lifetime of the transistor.
Abstract:
Deposition and anneal operations are iterated to break a deposition into a number of sequential deposition-anneal operations to reach a desired annealed dielectric layer thickness. In one particular embodiment, a two step anneal is performed including an NH3 or ND3 ambient followed by an N2O or NO ambient. In one embodiment, such a method is employed to form a dielectric layer having a stoichiometry attainable with only a deposition process but with a uniform material quality uncharacteristically high of a deposition process. In particular embodiments, sequential deposition-anneal operations provide an annealed first dielectric layer upon which a second dielectric layer may be left substantially non-annealed.