Abstract:
A method and system for providing at least One contact in a semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor device includes a substrate (201), an etch stop layer (240), an interlayer dielectric (250) on the etch stop layer (240), an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer (260) on the interlayer dielectric (250), and at least one feature below the etch stop layer (240). A resist mask having an aperture and residing on the ARC layer (260) is provided. The aperture is above an exposed portion of the ARC layer (260). The method and system include etching the exposed ARC layer (260) and the underlying interlayer dielectric (250) without etching through the etch stop layer (240), thereby providing a portion of at least one contact hole. The method and system also include removing the resist mask in situ, removing a portion of the etch stop layer (240) exposed in the portion of the contact hole, and filling the contact hole with a conductive material.
Abstract:
Planarized STI with minimized topography is formed by selectively etching back the dielectric trench fill (25) with respect to the polish stop film (23) prior to removing the polish stop film (23). Embodiments include etching back a silicon oxide trench fill (25) to a depth of about 200 Å to about 1,500 Å, and then stripping a silicon nitride polish stop layer (23) leaving a substantially planarized surface, thereby improving the accuracy of subsequent gate electrode patterning and reducing stringers.
Abstract:
A contact structure in a semiconductor device includes a layer of dielectric material (410) and a via (510) formed through the dielectric material (410). The contact structure further includes a spacer (710) formed on sidewalls of the via (510) using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and a metal (905) deposited in the via (510).
Abstract:
A method of making organic memory cells (104) made of two electrodes (106, 108) with a controllably conductive media (110) between the two electrodes (106, 108) is disclosed. The controllably conductive media (110) contains an organic semiconductor layer (112) and passive layer (114). The organic semiconductor layer (112) is formed using spin-on techniques with the assistance of certain solvents.
Abstract:
A method of protecting a SONOS flash memory cell (24) from UV-induced charging, including fabricating a SONOS flash memory cell (24) in a semiconductor device (10, 50); and depositing over the SONOS flash memory cell (24) at least one UV-protective layer (38, 46, 48 or 52), the UV-protective layer including a substantially UV-opaque material. A SONOS flash memory device (10, 50), including a SONOS flash memory cell (24); and at least one UV-protective layer (38, 46, 48 or 52), in which the UV-protective layer comprises a substantially UV-opaque material, is provided.
Abstract:
An exemplary method of fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a first layer (28) having a first dimension where the first layer (28) is disposed over an etch stop layer (26) and a second layer (24); oxidizing the surface (30) of the patterned first layer (28); removing the oxidized surface (30) of the patterned first layer (28) resulting in a second dimension for the patterned first layer (28); and etching the etch stop layer (26) and the second layer (24) using the patterned first layer (28) having the second dimension as a hard mask.
Abstract:
A method for forming a memory device ( 100) is provided. A nitride layer (330) is formed over a substrate (310). The nitride layer (330) and the substrate (310) are etched to form a trench (510). The nitride layer (330) is trimmed on opposite sides of the trench (510) to widen the trench (510) within the nitride layer (330). The trench (510) is filled with an oxide material (810). The nitride layer (330) is stripped from the memory device (100), forming a mesa (1410) above the trench (510).
Abstract:
A system and methodology are disclosed for forming a passive layer on a conductive layer, such as can be done during fabrication of an organic memory cell, which generally mitigates drawbacks inherent in conventional inorganic memory devices. The passive layer includes a conductivity facilitating compound, such as copper sulfide (Cu 2 S), which is generated from an upper portion of a conductive material. The conductive material can serve as a bottom electrode in the memory cell, and the upper portion of the conductive material can be transformed into the passive layer via treatment with a plasma generated from fluorine (F) based gases.
Abstract:
One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of fabricating a polymer memory device in a via. The method involves providing a semiconductor substrate having at least one metal-containing layer thereon, forming at least one copper contact in the metal-containing layer, forming at least one dielectric layer over the copper contact, forming at least one via in the dielectric layer to expose at least a portion of the copper contact, forming a polymer material in a lower portion of the via, and forming a top electrode material layer in an upper portion of the via.
Abstract:
A manufacturing method is provided for an integrated circuit memory with closely spaced wordlines (525) (526) formed by using the hard mask extensions (524). A charge-trapping dielectric material (504) is deposited over a semiconductor substrate (501) and first and second bitlines (512) are formed therein. A wordline material (515) and a hard mask material (515) are deposited over the wordline material (515). A photoresist material (518) is deposited over the hard mask material (515) and is processed to form a patterned photoresist material (518). The hard mask material (515) is processed using the patterned photoresist material (518) to form a patterned hard mask material (519). The patterned photoresist is then removed. A hard mask extension material (524) is deposited over the wordline material (515) and is processed to form a hard mask extension (524). The wordline material (515) is processed using the patterned hard mask material (519) and the hard mask extension (524) to form a wordline (525), and the patterned hard mask material (519) and the hard mask extension (524) are then removed.