Patent · US Expired

Method for removing contaminate nitrogen from the peripheral gate region of a non-volatile memory device during production of such device

US6177312A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
7References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 1998
Grant dateJan 23, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/974
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for removing contaminate nitrogen from the peripheral gate region of a non-volatile memory device during production of said device, wherein at least some of the contaminate nitrogen has formed a bond with the surface of the silicon substrate in contact with the gate oxide layer in said gate region, said method comprising: contacting said gate oxide layer and contaminate nitrogen with a gas comprising ozone at a temperature of about 850.degree. C. to about 950.degree. C. for an effective period of time to break said bond; and removing said gate oxide layer and contaminate nitrogen from said surface of said silicon substrate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.