Device structure for storing charge and method therefore
US6444545B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10D64/037
- WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A semiconductor device structure for storing charge has a silicon nitride layer, in which a plurality of nanoclusters are sandwiched between oxide layers. The nanoclusters and the silicon nitride make up a storage region, which is particularly useful in non-volatile memories. The nanoclusters provide a repository for holes or electrons that jump from trap to trap in the silicon nitride when the silicon nitride is heated. This results in much of the charge, which would normally leak off from the silicon nitride at high temperatures, remaining in the storage region due to trapping in the nanoclusters. The silicon nitride layer with nanoclusters therein is formed by depositing a silicon nitride layer, then nanoclusters, and then another silicon nitride layer or by depositing a silicon-rich silicon nitride layer and subsequent heating to cause it to transform to a regular silicon nitride layer with silicon nanoclusters therein.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.