Lsi Logic Corporation

Grace S Sun

Sheldon Aronowitz

Vladimir Zubkov

Sey-Shing Sun

Mohammad R Mirabedini

Hao Cui

William K Barth

Agajan Suvkhanov

Sethuraman Lakshminarayanan

An improved semiconductor memory structure and methods for its fabrication are disclosed. The memory structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a dielectric region formed over a channel region. A doped region is formed between a top portion and a bottom portion of the dielectric region. This doped region includes a suitable electron affinity material. A gate electrode is connected with the top of the dielectric region. In some embodiments, suitable electron affinity materials are introduced into the doped region using implantation techniques. In another embodiment, the electron affinity material is introduced into the doped region using plasma treatment of the dielectric region and the redeposition of additional dielectric material on top of the dielectric region and doped region.

Method and apparatus for forming a memory structure having an electron affinity region

A method for forming damascene interconnect copper diffusion barrier layers includes implanting calcium into the sidewalls of the trenches and vias. The calcium implantation into dielectric layers, such as oxides, is used to prevent Cu diffusion into oxide, such as during an annealing process step. The improved barrier layers of the present invention help prevent delamination of the Cu from the dielectric.

Method for creating barrier layers for copper diffusion

An improved semiconductor memory structure and methods for its fabrication are disclosed. The memory structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a dielectric stack formed over a channel region of a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric stack includes a layer of electron trapping material that operates as a charge storage center for memory devices. A gate electrode is connected with the top of the dielectric stack. In various embodiments the electron trapping material forms a greater or lesser portion of the dielectric stack. The invention includes a method embodiment for forming such a memory device.

Memory device having an electron trapping layer in a high-K dielectric gate stack

A calcium doped polysilicon gate electrodes for PMOS containing semiconductor devices. The calcium doped PMOS gate electrodes reduce migration of the boron dopant out of the gate electrode, through the gate dielectric and into the substrate thereby reducing the boron penetration problem increasingly encountered with smaller device size regimes and their thinner gate dielectrics. Calcium doping of the gate electrode may be achieved by a variety of techniques. It is further believed that the calcium doping may improve the boron dopant activation in the gate electrode, thereby further improving performance.

Calcium doped polysilicon gate electrodes

A new relatively high-k gate dielectric gate material comprising calcium oxide will reduce leakage from the silicon substrate to the polysilicon gate, prevent boron penetration in p-channel devices, and reduce electron trapping in the dielectric. The surface of a silicon wafer is saturated with hydroxyl groups. A calcium halide, preferably calcium bromide, is heated to a temperature sufficient to achieve atomic layer deposition, and is transported to the silicon wafer. The calcium halide reacts with the hydroxyl groups. Water is added to carry away the resultant hydrogen halide. Gaseous calcium and water are then added to form a calcium oxide gate dielectric, until the desired thickness has been achieved. In an alternative embodiment of the method, the calcium halide is transported to the silicon wafer to react with the hydroxyl groups, followed by transport of gaseous water to the silicon wafer. These two steps are repeated until the desired thickness has been achieved.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Grace S Sun