Patent ID: 9082714
Filing Date: 2015-07-14
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: forming a plurality of wordline structures on a substrate, wherein individual wordline structures of the plurality of wordline structures include a control gate having an electrically conductive material and a cap having a first electrically insulative material formed on the control gate; depositing a second electrically insulative material to form a liner on a surface of the individual wordline structures, on sidewall surfaces of the control gate and the cap, and on a top surface of the cap; and etching the liner to remove at least a portion of the liner using an anisotropic dry etch process to substantially remove the second electrically insulative material of the liner from the top surface of the cap, wherein the etching reduces a thickness of the second electrically insulative material of the liner on the sidewall surfaces of the individual wordline structures such that the second electrically insulative material of the liner substantially covers the sidewall surfaces of the individual wordline structures subsequent to the etching, wherein the substrate includes a semiconductor material, a tunnel dielectric is disposed on the semiconductor material and wherein the etching removes a portion of the tunnel dielectric and the semiconductor material of the substrate and subsequent to etching the liner, forming an air gap between the individual wordline structures of the plurality of wordline structures.