Patent ID: 6433383
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor device comprising:a floating gate structure; a control gate structure; and a single continuous non-laminated dielectric layer located between the floating gate structure and the control gate structure, the single continuous non-laminated dielectric layer being between about 40 Angstroms to about 300 Angstroms thick and including silicon having a first oxygen-rich region, a nitrogen-rich region, and a second oxygen-rich region, wherein the first oxygen-rich region is between about 1 Angstrom to about 200 Angstroms thick and is in direct physical contact with at least a portion of the floating gate structure, the nitrogen-rich region the nitrogen-rich region is between about 10 Angstroms and about 300 Angstroms thick, has a concentration of nitrogen that is substantially constant throughout the entire thickness of the nitrogen-rich region and is located between the first and second oxygen-rich regions, and the second oxygen-rich region is between about 1 Angstrom to about 100 Angstroms thick and is in direct physical contact with at least a portion of the control gate structure.