U.S. Philips Corporation

Mathieu J Ulenaers

Robertus A Wolters

Poul K Larsen

A semiconductor device in which a capacitor (2) is provided on a surface (10) of a semiconductor body (3) with a semiconductor element (1) in which a lower electrode (11), an oxidic ferroelectric dielectric (12) and an upper electrode (13) are provided in that order, the upper electrode not covering an edge of the dielectric, after which an insulating layer (14) with superimposed metal conductor tracks is provided. According to the invention, the edge of the dielectric (12) not covered by the upper electrode (13) is coated with a coating layer (14, 20, or 30) practically imperviable to hydrogen, after which the device is heated in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere. Heating in a hydrogen atmosphere neutralizes dangling bonds which arise during deposition of the conductor tracks on the insulating layer, while the coating layer protects the dielectric from attacks by hydrogen. The semiconductor device then has a shorter access time.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a capacitor with a

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a capacitor

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor body (3) with a surface (10) on which capacitors (2) are provided, which form memory elements, with a lower electrode (11) including platinum, a ferroelectric dielectric material (12) and an upper electrode (13) is presented. In the method according to the invention, the electrodes (11, 13) including platinum are formed by the successive deposition on a surface of a first layer (19, 26) comprising a metal from the group titanium, zirconium, hafnium or an alloy of these metals, a second layer (20, 27) comprising platinum, and a third layer (21, 28) comprising a metal from the group titanium, zirconium, hafnium, or an alloy of these metals, upon which the semiconductor body is heated in an atmosphere containing oxygen. The first metal layer ensures a good adhesion of the electrode, the second layer acts as the electrode proper, while the third metal layer counteracts adverse effects of the first layer. Semiconductor devices having electrodes with good adhesion and a smooth surface can be manufactured in such a way. As a result, the semicondcutor device is reliable, while switching of the capacitors (2) acting as memory elements between two polarization states takes place at a positive and a negative voltage of equal value.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Mathieu J Ulenaers