Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Yoon-Ho Son

Suk-Hun Choi

Chang-ki Hong

Sung-lae Cho

Joon-Sang Park

Jang-Eun Heo

In-seak Hwang

Sang-Don Nam

Dae-Hyuk Chung

Sang-Woo Lee

Min-Young Park

Jae-hyoung Choi

Yong-Suk Tak

Byeong-Ok Cho

Sang-jun Lee

Hyun-Jun Sim

Tae-ho Hwang

Ju-Young Jung

Tae-Joon Park

Mong-Sup Lee

Sang-Hyun Choi

Jin-Ho Noh

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first preliminary gate barrier layer and a first preliminary gate electrode recessed to have a first depth from the surface of the substrate within a gate trench, removing an upper portion of the first preliminary gate electrode by means of a first wet etching process using a first etchant to form a second preliminary gate electrode recessed to have a second depth greater than the first depth, and removing an upper portion of the first preliminary gate barrier layer and an upper portion of the second preliminary gate electrode by means of a second wet etching process using a second etchant to form a gate electrode and a gate barrier layer recessed to a third depth greater than the second depth.

Method of fabricating semiconductor device

In a semiconductor device having an enlarged contact area between a contact structure and a substrate, the substrate may include a first region on which a conductive structure is arranged and a second region defining the first region. The first region may include a multi-faced polyhedral recess of which at least one of the sidewalls is slanted with respect to a surface of the substrate. An insulation layer may be formed on the substrate to a thickness that is sufficient to cover the conductive structure. The insulation layer has a contact hole that may be communicated with the recess. The active region of the substrate is exposed through the contact hole. A conductive pattern is positioned in the recess and the contact hole. Accordingly, the contact resistance at the active region of the substrate may be kept to a relatively low value even though the gap distances and line width of pattern lines are reduced.

Memory device

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes depositing tungsten on an insulating layer in which a contact hole is formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), performing chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) on the tungsten to expose the insulating layer and form a tungsten contact plug, and performing rapid thermal oxidation (RTO) on the tungsten contact plug in an oxygen atmosphere such that the tungsten expands volumetrically into tungsten oxide (WO).

Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices including a contact plug processed by rapid thermal annealing

A phase-change memory device including a first contact region and a second contact region formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating layer with a first contact hole and a second contact hole is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, exposing the first and second contact regions. A first conductive layer is disposed on the first insulating interlayer to fill the first and the second contact holes. A first protection layer pattern and a lower wiring protection pattern are disposed on the first conductive layer. A first contact with a first electrode and a second contact with a lower wiring are disposed so as to connect the first and second contact regions. A second protection layer with a second electrode is disposed on the first protection layer pattern and the lower wiring protection pattern. A via filled with a phase-change material is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Phase-change memory device using a variable resistance structure

A plug comprises a first insulating interlayer, a tungsten pattern and a tungsten oxide pattern. The first insulating interlayer has a contact hole formed therethrough on a substrate. The tungsten pattern is formed in the contact hole. The tungsten pattern has a top surface lower than an upper face of the first insulating interlayer. The tungsten oxide pattern is formed in the contact hole and on the tungsten pattern. The tungsten oxide pattern has a level face.

Method of forming a seam-free tungsten plug

In a method of forming a contact structure, a first insulation layer including a first contact hole is formed on a substrate. A metal layer including tungsten is formed to fill the first contact hole. A planarization process is performed on the metal layer until the first insulation layer is exposed to form a first contact. A second contact is grown from the first contact. The second contact is formed without performing a photolithography process and an etching process to prevent misalignments.

Methods of forming a contact structure

In methods of manufacturing a variable resistance structure and a phase-change memory device, after forming a first insulation layer on a substrate having a contact region, a contact hole exposing the contact region is formed through the first insulation layer. After forming a first conductive layer on the first insulation layer to fill up the contact hole, a first protection layer pattern is formed on the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer is partially etched to form a contact and to form a pad on the contact. A second protection layer is formed on the first protection layer pattern, and then an opening exposing the pad is formed through the second protection layer and the first protection layer pattern. After formation of a first electrode, a phase-change material layer pattern and a second electrode are formed on the first electrode and the second protection layer.

Method of manufacturing a variable resistance structure and method of manufacturing a phase-change memory device using the same

Methods of forming a metal contact structure include forming an interlayer insulating layer on a substrate, etching the interlayer insulating layer to form a hole, depositing a metal layer on the surface of the interlayer insulating layer including inside the hole, planarizing the metal layer to provide a buried portion of the metal layer in the hole and to remove portions of the metal layer outside of the hole, etching-back the buried portion of the metal layer in the hole such that some of the portion of the metal layer within the hole remains and depositing a conductive layer on the surface of the interlayer insulating layer and the portion of the metal layer that remains within the hole. Methods of forming a phase change memory device are also provided.

Methods of forming metal contact structures and methods of fabricating phase-change memory devices using the same

A dielectric layer is formed on a region of a microelectronic substrate. A sacrificial layer is formed on the dielectric layer, and portions of the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer are removed to form an opening that exposes a portion of the region. A conductive layer is formed on the sacrificial layer and in the opening. Portions of the sacrificial layer and the conductive layer on the dielectric layer are removed to leave a conductive plug in the dielectric layer and in contact with the region. Removal of the sacrificial layer and portions of the conductive layer on the dielectric layer may include polishing to expose the sacrificial layer and to leave a conductive plug in the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer, etching the sacrificial layer to expose the dielectric layer and leave a portion of the conductive plug protruding from the dielectric layer, and polishing to remove the protruding portion of the conductive plug. Phase-change memory devices formed by such techniques are also discussed.

Microelectronic devices using sacrificial layers and structures fabricated by same

A ferroelectric memory device and a method of forming the same are provided. At least two lower electrode patterns are formed on an interlayer insulating layer covering a semiconductor substrate. A seed layer pattern filling a space between at least the two lower electrode patterns and having a planar surface is formed. A ferroelectric layer is formed on the lower electrode pattern and the seed layer pattern. An upper electrode overlapping the two lower electrode patterns is formed on the ferroelectric layer.

Method for forming ferroelectric memory device

Method for forming small features in microelectronic devices using sacrificial layers

A protection layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and an alignment key region. A plurality of data storage elements are formed on the protection layer in the cell array region. An insulating layer is formed on the data storage elements, a barrier layer is formed on the insulating layer, and a sacrificial layer is formed on the barrier layer. The sacrificial layer, the barrier layer and the insulating layer are patterned to form contact holes that expose the data storage elements, and conductive plugs are formed in the contact holes. The sacrificial layer is etched to leave portions of the conductive plugs protruding from the barrier layer. The protruding portions of the conductive plugs are removed by polishing.

Methods for fabricating memory devices using sacrificial layers

Methods are provided for fabricating contacts in integrated circuit devices, such as phase-change memories. A protection layer and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on a semiconductor substrate. A contact hole is formed through the sacrificial layer and the protection layer. A conductive layer is formed on the sacrificial layer and in the contact hole, and portions of the conductive layer and the sacrificial layer are removed to expose the protection layer and form a conductive plug protruding from the protection layer. A protruding portion of the conductive plug removed to leave a contact plug in the protection layer. A phase-change data storage element may be formed on the contact plug.

Methods for fabricating memory devices using sacrificial layers and memory devices fabricated by same

Ferroelectric memory devices can be formed by polishing an insulating layer on a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors with a silica slurry to reduce a height of the insulating layer above a surface of the plurality of ferroelectric capacitors so that the surface remains covered by a portion of the insulating layer. The insulating layer can be further polished with a ceria slurry to further reduce the height of the insulating layer and to expose a polishing stop layer on the surface of the plurality of ferroelectric capacitors. Related devices are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Yoon-Ho Son