The invention discloses a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device and a method of fabricating such DRAM device. The DRAM device according to the invention includes a plurality of bit lines formed on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of first isolation stripes, a plurality of second isolation stripes, a plurality of transistors formed between the first isolation stripes and the second isolation stripes, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of capacitors formed above the first isolation stripes and the second isolation stripes. The semiconductor substrate defines a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a normal direction, a plurality of columns in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of rows in the transverse direction. The first isolation stripes and the second isolation stripes extend in the longitudinal direction. Each transistor corresponds to one of the columns and one of the rows. The transistors on one side of each first isolation stripe and the transistors on the other side of said one first isolation stripe are staggeredly arranged. Each word line corresponds to one of the columns and connects the gate conductors of the transistors along the corresponding column. Each capacitor corresponds to one of the transistors and connects the source region of the corresponding transistor.

According to one embodiment, a source layer includes a semiconductor layer including an impurity. A stacked body includes a plurality of electrode layers stacked with an insulator interposed. A gate layer is provided between the source layer and the stacked body. The gate layer is thicker than a thickness of one layer of the electrode layers. A semiconductor body extends in a stacking direction of the stacked body through the stacked body and the gate layer. The semiconductor body further extends in the semiconductor layer where a side wall portion of the semiconductor body contacts the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor body does not contact the electrode layers and the gate layer.

A semiconductor processing liquid including hydrofluoric acid, and an organic solvent, in which the organic solvent contains a compound represented by the formula below in which X.sub.1 is a single bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, in which an ether bond may be interposed, Y.sub.10 is one of —O—, —(C═O)—, —O—(C═O)—, and —(C═O)—O—, Y.sub.20 is one of —(C═O)—, —O—(C═O)—, and —(C═O)—O—, and Y.sub.11 and Y.sub.21 are each independently a single bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms in which an ether bond may be interposed, provided that, X.sub.1, Y.sub.11, and Y.sub.21 do not contain hydroxyl groups in structures thereof, and when X.sub.1 is a single bond, Y.sub.10 is not —O—)

H.sub.3C—Y.sub.11—Y.sub.10—X.sub.1—Y.sub.20—Y.sub.21—CH.sub.3  (1).

A method includes: providing a substrate; forming a first pair of source/drain regions in the substrate; disposing an interlayer dielectric layer over the substrate, the interlayer dielectric layer having a first trench between the first pair of source/drain regions; depositing a dielectric layer in the first trench; depositing a barrier layer over the dielectric layer; performing an operation on the substrate; removing the barrier layer from the first trench to expose the dielectric layer subsequent to the operation; and depositing a work function layer over the dielectric layer in the first trench.

In one example, a method includes performing a first etching process to pattern a dielectric layer and expose a contact etch stop layer, performing a second etching process to remove the etch stop layer and expose a top surface of an underlying feature, performing a third etching process to laterally recess the etch stop layer, and depositing a conductive material over the underlying feature to create a conductive feature in direct contact with the underlying feature.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an IC, and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a memory region and a logic region integrated in a substrate. A plurality of memory cell structures is disposed on the memory region. Each memory cell structure of the plurality of memory cell structures comprises a control gate electrode disposed over the substrate, a select gate electrode disposed on one side of the control gate electrode, and a spacer between the control gate electrode and the select gate electrode. A contact etch stop layer (CESL) is disposed along an upper surface of the substrate, extending upwardly along and in direct contact with a sidewall surface of the select gate electrode within the memory region. A lower inter-layer dielectric layer is disposed on the CESL between the plurality of memory cell structures within the memory region.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for opening a source line in a memory device. An erase gate line (EGL) and the source line are formed elongated in parallel. The source line underlies the EGL and is separated from the EGL by a dielectric layer. A first etch is performed to form a first opening through the EGL and stops on the dielectric layer. A second etch is performed to thin the dielectric layer at the first opening, wherein the first and second etches are performed with a common mask in place. A silicide process is performed to form a silicide layer on the source line at the first opening, wherein the silicide process comprises a third etch with a second mask in place and extends the first opening through the dielectric layer. A via is formed extending through the EGL to the silicide layer.

A semiconductor structure for a memory device includes a first gate structure and a second gate structure adjacent to the first gate structure. The second gate structure includes a first layer and a second layer, and the first layer is between the second layer and the first gate structure. The first layer and the second layer include a same semiconductor material and same dopants. The first layer has a first dopant concentration, and the second layer has a second dopant concentration different from the firs dopant concentration.

Methods of cutting gate structures and fins, and structures formed thereby, are described. In an embodiment, a substrate includes first and second fins and an isolation region. The first and second fins extend longitudinally parallel, with the isolation region disposed therebetween. A gate structure includes a conformal gate dielectric over the first fin and a gate electrode over the conformal gate dielectric. A first insulating fill structure abuts the gate structure and extends vertically from a level of an upper surface of the gate structure to at least a surface of the isolation region. No portion of the conformal gate dielectric extends vertically between the first insulating fill structure and the gate electrode. A second insulating fill structure abuts the first insulating fill structure and an end sidewall of the second fin. The first insulating fill structure is disposed laterally between the gate structure and the second insulating fill structure.

A method includes etching a first portion and a second portion of a dummy gate stack to form a first opening and a second opening, respectively, and depositing a silicon nitride layer to fill the first opening and the second opening. The deposition of the silicon nitride layer comprises a first process selected from treating the silicon nitride layer using hydrogen radicals, implanting the silicon nitride layer, and combinations thereof. The method further includes etching a third portion of the dummy gate stack to form a trench, etching a semiconductor fin underlying the third portion to extend the trench down into a bulk portion of a semiconductor substrate underlying the dummy gate stack, and depositing a second silicon nitride layer into the trench.