Patent · US Active

Method of selective nitridation

US7972933B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 29, 2010
Grant dateJul 5, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 29, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/911
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods of forming semiconductor devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming a semiconductor device may include providing a substrate having an oxide surface and a silicon surface; forming a nitrogen-containing layer on exposed portions of both the oxide and silicon surfaces; and oxidizing the nitrogen-containing layer to selectively remove the nitrogen-containing layer from atop the oxide surface. In some embodiments, an oxide layer is formed atop a remaining portion of the nitrogen-containing layer formed on the silicon feature. In some embodiments, the oxide surface is an exposed surface of a shallow trench isolate region (STI) disposed adjacent to one or more floating gates of a semiconductor device. In some embodiments, the silicon surface is an exposed surface of a silicon or polysilicon floating gate of a semiconductor device.

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