Patent ID: 8288293
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating non-volatile memory, comprising: forming a layer of dielectric material over a substrate; forming a layer of charge storage material over the layer of dielectric material; etching the layer of charge storage material according to a first pattern to form strips of charge storage material having sidewalls elongated in a first direction over the substrate; forming a silicon oxynitride encapsulating layer along the sidewalls of the strips of charge storage material using a nitridation process; etching the layer of dielectric material and the substrate between portions of the encapsulating layer on the sidewalls of adjacent strips of charge storage material, the etching forming isolation trenches to define active areas in the substrate at areas underlying the strips of charge storage material; filling the isolation trenches with an insulating material; recessing the insulating material between adjacent strips of the charge storage material; forming an intermediate dielectric layer and a control gate layer after recessing the insulating material; forming patterning strips elongated in a second direction over the control gate layer; and etching the control gate layer and the intermediate dielectric layer using the patterning strips to define a plurality of word lines from the control gate layer and a plurality of charge storage regions from each strip of charge storage material.