Semiconductor storage device and method for manufacturing the same

A semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulator, a laminated insulator including a second insulator having fixed charges more than those of the first insulator, a single-layer insulator, memory cells between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, each memory cells separated from an adjacent memory cell by a cavity portion and including a tunnel insulator, a charge accumulation layer, an insulator, and a control gate electrode, a first selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, a second selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, between one memory cell and the first selection gate transistor, and in contact with the laminated insulator on a first side face on a memory cell side thereof, and a high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulator, and in contact with the single-layer insulator on a side face thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-70602, filed on Mar. 23, 2009; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor storage device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor storage device, particularly to a NAND semiconductor storage device including a memory cell transistor, a selection gate transistor, and a high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device.

2. Related Art

In a conventional semiconductor storage device, a gap between word lines is filled with an oxide film or a nitride film. As a result, the gap between the word lines is shortened with shrink of devices, and as a result, there is a problem that a programming speed is lowered by a parasitic capacitance generated between floating gate electrodes of adjacent word lines or between the floating gate electrode and diffusion layers.

In order to solve the problem, there has been proposed a technique, in which an oxide film less buried is deposited on the word line and between the word lines, an air gap (cavity portion) is formed between the adjacent floating gate electrodes, thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance (for example, see U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006/0001073 and 2006/0231884).

In case that the air gap is formed using sacrifice nitride film containing a nitride film having fixed charges more than the oxide film, such the problem is occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor storage device comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

a first insulating film;

a laminated insulating film comprising a second insulating film having fixed charges more than those of the first insulating film;

a plurality of memory cells between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulating film, each of the memory cells separated from an adjacent memory cell by a first cavity portion and comprising a tunnel insulating film, a charge accumulation layer, an insulating film, and a control gate electrode;

a first selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulating film:

a second selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulating film, between one of the memory cells and the first selection gate transistor, and in contact with the laminated insulating film on a first side face on a memory cell side thereof; and

a high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulating film, and in contact with the single-layer insulating film on a side face thereof.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor storage device comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

a first insulating film;

a plurality of memory cells between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulating film, each of the memory cells separated from an adjacent memory cell by a cavity portion and comprising a tunnel insulating film, a charge accumulation layer, an insulating film, a control gate electrode;

a first selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulating film;

a second selection gate transistor between the semiconductor substrate and the first insulating film, and between one of the memory cells and the first selection gate transistor;

a spacer insulating film between the first selection gate transistor and the second selection gate transistor; and

a third insulating film on the spacer insulating film.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising:

forming gate electrodes of a plurality of memory cells comprising a tunnel insulating film, a charge accumulation layer, an insulating film, and a control gate electrode, a gate electrode of a first selection gate transistor, a gate electrode of a second selection gate transistor between one of the memory cells and the first selection gate transistor, and a gate electrode of a high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor;

forming an insulating film which covers the memory cells, the first selection gate transistor, the second selection gate transistor, and the high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor, and is buried between the memory cells;

processing the insulating film to remain on side faces of each of the memory cells, side faces of the first selection gate transistor, side faces of the second selection gate transistor, and side faces of the high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor;

selectively removing the insulating film remaining on the side faces of the first selection gate transistor and on the side faces of the high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor;

forming a spacer insulating film having fewer fixed charges than the insulating film on the side face of the second selection gate transistor and the side faces of the high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor;

removing the insulating film between the memory cells; and

depositing a first insulating film which covers upper portions of the memory cells, and thereby cavity portions between the memory cells are formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings.

A structure of a semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment of the invention will be described.FIG. 1illustrates planar structures of a memory cell array area100and a peripheral circuit area200in the semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment.FIG. 14illustrates sectional structures of the semiconductor storage device.FIG. 14(a) is a longitudinal sectional view of a memory cell transistor taken on a line A-A ofFIG. 1(a),FIG. 14(b) is a longitudinal sectional view of an end portion of the memory cell transistor and a selection gate transistor taken on a line B-B ofFIG. 1(a),

FIG. 14(c) is a longitudinal sectional view of the memory cell transistor taken on a line C-C ofFIG. 1(a), andFIG. 14(d) is a longitudinal sectional view of a peripheral circuit transistor taken on a line D-D ofFIG. 1(a).

As illustrated inFIG. 1(a), a surface area of the memory cell array area100includes plural active areas AA and plural shallow trench isolations STI. The active area AA and the shallow trench isolation STI extend in a Y-direction. One active area AA is sandwiched between two shallow trench isolations STI in an X-direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 1(a), plural word lines WL extend in the X-direction at constant intervals in the Y-direction and intersect with the active area AA. Each memory cell MC is provided at a point in which the word line WL and the active area AA intersect with each other. The area where the memory cells MC are disposed is referred to as memory cell area MCA.

A selection gate line SGL extending in the X-direction is disposed in an area (selection gate area SGA) sandwiched between the memory cell areas MCA. Each selection gate transistor ST is provided at a position in which the selection gate line SGL and the active area AA intersect with each other. A distance between the word line WL and the selection gate line SGL is longer than a distance between the word lines WL. The two selection gate lines SGL are disposed adjacently in the Y-direction. A distance between the selection gate lines SGL is longer than a distance between the word line WL and the selection gate line SGL. A contact Con is provided in the active area AA between the two selection gate lines SGL, and is shared by the two selection gate transistors ST.

As illustrated inFIG. 1(b), a high-voltage MIS transistor HVTr is provided in the peripheral circuit area200. In the embodiment, hereinafter the area where the high-voltage MIS transistor HVTr is disposed (formed) in the peripheral circuit area200is referred to as high-voltage transistor forming area HVTA. The “high-voltage MIS transistor HVTr” is occasionally referred to as “high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor PT”. The high-voltage transistor forming area HVTA has device areas DA which are surrounded by a shallow trench isolation (not illustrated) and electrically separated from each other. A gate electrode GE of each high-voltage MIS transistor HVTr extends in the X-direction so as to stride across the device area DA, and is extended onto the shallow trench isolation STI. The gate electrode GE is provided with a contact Con in the extended area

A section of the semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment will be described below. As illustrated inFIG. 14, the section of the semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate1and a memory cell transistor. The memory cell transistor includes plural memory cells (word line WL). Each of the memory cells includes a tunnel insulating film2a, a charge accumulation layer3(floating gate electrode), an inter-poly insulating film5, and control gate electrode6, which are laminated in sequence on the semiconductor substrate1.

The semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment includes a pair of selection gate transistors between the memory cells (word lines WL) and the high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor PT. The pair of selection gate transistors includes a first selection gate transistor ST1and a second gate transistor ST2. The second selection gate transistor ST2is between a memory cell (word line WL1) at the end of the memory cell transistors and a first selection gate transistor ST1. Each of the first selection gate transistor ST1and the selection gate transistor ST2includes the gate electrode on the tunnel insulating film2a. The structure of the gate electrode of each of the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2is identical to that of each of the memory cells except that the inter-poly insulating film5has an opening through which the charge accumulation layer3and the control gate electrode6are connected.

The semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment includes the high-voltage peripheral circuit transistor PT formed in a peripheral circuit area. The peripheral circuit transistor PT includes the gate electrode on the gate insulating film2b. The gate insulating film2bmay be made of the same material as that of the tunnel insulating film2a, or may be made of a material different from that of the tunnel insulating film2a. The gate insulating film2bmay have a film thickness different from that of the tunnel insulating film2a. The structure of the gate electrode is identical to that of each of the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2. That is, in the gate electrode of the peripheral circuit transistor PT, the inter-poly insulating film5has the opening through which the charge accumulation layer3and the control gate electrode6are connected.

The memory cell transistor is in contact with a first insulating film (barrier insulating film, for example, silicon oxide film)19formed thereon. The memory cell transistor includes a first cavity portion (air gap)21formed in an area between the first insulating film19and the memory cell (word line WL).

A protective insulating film10is formed on a side face (first side face) on the memory cell side of the second selection gate transistor ST2. A second insulating film (sacrifice nitride film, for example, silicon nitride film)11is formed on a side face of the protective insulating film10which has more fixed charges than the first insulating film19. An upper surface of the second insulating film11is formed lower than that of each of the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2. A cover insulating film (for example, silicon oxide film)12is formed so as to cover the second insulating film11. The protective insulating film10, the second insulating film11, and the cover insulating film12correspond to a laminated insulating film. That is, the second selection gate transistor ST2is in contact with the first insulating film19formed thereon, and is in contact with the laminated insulating film including the second insulating film11having more fixed charges than the first insulating film19on the side face on the memory cell transistor side.

Similarly, a laminated insulating film having the same structure as the laminated insulating film formed in the second selection gate transistor ST2is formed on a side face on the side of the second selection gate transistor ST2of the memory cell transistor side. A spacer insulating film15is buried between the memory cell and the laminated insulating film of the second selection gate transistor ST2. The first insulating film19is formed on the spacer insulating film15, and is continuously formed from the memory cell to the spacer insulating film15. In case that the cover insulating film12and the spacer insulating film15are made of the same material, a boundary between layers of the laminated insulating film becomes unclear. In this case, the boundary is roughly estimated from a boundary between the second insulating film11and the cover insulating film12. The spacer insulating film15has fewer fixed charges than the second insulating film11.

The protective insulating film10is formed between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and on the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT. The spacer insulating film15is formed on the side face of the protective insulating film10, and is continuously formed from the semiconductor substrate1. The protective insulating film10and the spacer insulating film15are made of the same material to constitute a single-layer insulating film. Occasionally, the protective insulating film10is not formed. In such cases, a single-layer insulating film includes only the spacer insulating film15. An inter-layer insulating film17(third insulating film) is formed on the spacer insulating film15. That is, the second selection gate transistor ST2is in contact with the single-layer insulating film on the side face (second side face) opposite to the memory cell transistor, and the single-layer insulating film includes the protective insulating film10and the spacer insulating film15. On the other word, the single-layer insulating film is provided between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2. The peripheral circuit transistor PT is in contact with the first insulating film19formed thereon. The peripheral circuit transistor PT is also in contact with the single-layer insulating film on the side face thereof, and the single-layer insulating film includes the protective insulating film10and the spacer insulating film15.

The inter-layer insulating film17is formed between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and between the peripheral circuit transistors PT. The inter-layer insulating film17is formed such that a second cavity portion (air gap)22is interposed between the inter-layer insulating film17and the side face of the spacer insulating film15.

A method for manufacturing the semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.FIGS. 2 to 13are process sectional views illustrating the method for manufacturing the semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment.FIGS. 2(a),3(a),4(a),5(a),6(a),7(a),8(a),9(a),10(a),11(a),12(a), and13(a) are longitudinal sectional views of the memory cell transistor taken on the line A-A ofFIG. 1(a), respectively.FIGS. 2(b),3(b),4(b),5(b),6(b),7(b),8(b),9(b),10(b),11(b),12(b), and13(b) are longitudinal sectional views of the end portion of the memory cell transistor and the selection gate transistor taken on the line B-B ofFIG. 1(a), respectively.FIGS. 2(c),3(c),4(c),5(c),6(c),7(c),8(c),9(c),10(c),11(c),12(c), and13(c) are longitudinal sectional views of the memory cell transistor taken on the line C-C ofFIG. 1(a), respectively.FIGS. 2(d),3(d),4(d),5(d),6(d),7(d),8(d),9(d),10(d),11(d),12(d), and13(d) are longitudinal sectional views of the peripheral circuit transistor taken on the line D-D ofFIG. 1(a), respectively.

Processes to word line processing will be described with reference toFIG. 2.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the tunnel insulating film2aincluding a silicon oxide film is formed on the semiconductor substrate1. The charge accumulation layer3(first polysilicon film) including a polysilicon film is formed on the tunnel insulating film2a. At this step, the tunnel insulating film2aof the peripheral circuit transistor PT is formed thicker than the tunnel insulating films2aof the other areas. As a result, peripheral circuit transistor PT becomes the high-voltage transistor.

The charge accumulation layer3, the tunnel insulating film2a, and the semiconductor substrate1are removed to form grooves at predetermined intervals along a first direction (Y-direction ofFIG. 1). The silicon oxide film fills in the groove to a predetermined height to form a Shallow Trench Isolation (STI)4.

The inter-poly insulating film5is formed so as to cover the charge accumulation layer3and the shallow trench isolation4. A first polysilicon film is formed on the inter-poly insulating film5. A groove is formed by partially removing the first polysilicon film and the inter-poly insulating film5in predetermined positions of the area (selection gate forming area SGA) where the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2are formed and the area (high-voltage transistor forming area HVTA) where the peripheral circuit transistor PT is formed. A second polysilicon film is formed on the first polysilicon film so as to fill in the groove.

As a result, in the memory cell transistor, the control gate electrode6is formed to include the second polysilicon film. The first selection gate transistor ST1, the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the peripheral circuit transistor PT have an etching inter-poly structure in which the polysilicon films (electrode layer) are connected above and below the inter-poly insulating film5.

A silicon nitride film7is formed on the control gate electrode6. The word line (the gate electrode of the memory cell transistor), the gate electrodes of the first selection gate transistor ST1, the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the peripheral circuit transistor PT can be processed by removing the silicon nitride film7, the control gate electrode6, the inter-poly insulating film5, the floating gate electrode4, and the tunnel insulating film2aat predetermined intervals along the second direction (X-direction ofFIG. 1) orthogonal to the first direction. The tunnel insulating film2amay be remained without removing it.

A width L1between the second selection gate transistor ST2and the word line WL1adjacent to the second selection gate transistor ST2is set so as to become at least three times a width L2of a bottom of the word line. The first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor are disposed at both ends of the plural word lines WL, respectively.

After processing the word line, the protective insulating film (silicon oxide film)10is formed so as to cover the word line WL, the gate electrodes of the first selection gate transistor ST1, the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the peripheral circuit transistor PT. At this step, the protective insulating film10is formed so as to have a film thickness that does not fill in the gap between the word lines WL, the gap between the word line WL and the electrode of the second selection gate transistor ST2, the gap between the electrodes of the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the gap between the peripheral circuit transistors PT. Then impurities are implanted by using the word line WL, the electrodes of the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the electrode of the peripheral circuit transistor PT as a mask to form diffusion layers DF in a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate1. The diffusion layers DF are omitted inFIGS. 4 to 13for convenience.

The electrodes of the first selection gate transistor ST1, the second selection gate transistor, and the peripheral circuit transistor PT are covered with the protective insulating film10, and the second insulating film11is formed so as to fill in the space between the word lines WL (memory cell). At this step, the second insulating film11does not fill in the space between the word lines WL, the space between the word line WL and the electrode of the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the space between the protective insulating film10and the electrode of the peripheral circuit transistor PT. For example, preferably the second insulating film11is formed by an ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) method. The second insulating film11may be formed by an LP-CVD (Low Pressure-Chemical Vapor Deposition) method or a plasma CVD method.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the second insulating film11is etched back by RIE (Reactive Ion Etching) to form sidewalls (sidewall films) SW on the side face of the first selection gate transistor ST1, the side face of the second selection gate transistor ST2, the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT, and the side face of the word line WL1. The side face of the word line WL1faces the side face of the second selection gate transistor ST2. The sidewall SW includes the second insulating film11and the protective insulating film10.

An RIE etching condition at this step is selected so that the upper portions of the second insulating films11on the side faces of the first selection gate transistor ST1, the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the peripheral circuit transistor PT are etched back more than the lower portions of the second insulating films11on the side faces of the first selection gate transistor ST1, the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the peripheral circuit transistor PT. That is, the sidewalls SW are processed so that they remain on the side faces of the memory transistor, the first selection gate transistor ST1, the second selection gate transistor ST2, and peripheral circuit transistor PT. As a result, the upper portions of the sidewalls SW are etched, and the upper surfaces of the sidewalls SW become lower than that of the silicon nitride films7. Occasionally, the second insulating films11on the side faces of the second selection gate transistor ST2and peripheral circuit transistor PT have triangular shapes. The second insulating film11filling in the space between the word lines WL is simultaneously etched. However, only the upper portion of the second insulating film11is partially etched, and the second insulating film11remains between the word lines WL.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the cover insulating film (for example, silicon oxide film)12is formed on the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate1. At this step, the cover insulating film12is formed so as to have a film thickness that does not fill in the space between the word line WL and the electrode of the second selection gate transistor ST2and the space between the electrodes of the peripheral circuit transistors PT.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, a resist14is formed through lithography processing such that the word line WL is covered with the resist14from the neighborhood of the center of the second selection gate transistor ST2. That is, the resist14is formed such that an opening between the selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2is formed. The resist14is also formed such that an opening between the peripheral circuit transistors PT is formed.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the cover insulating film12exposed from the opening of the resist14is removed. That is, the cover insulating films12remaining on the side face of the first selection gate transistor ST1not adjacent to the memory cell transistor and the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT are selectively removed. As a result, the surface between the selection gate transistors and the surface of the sidewall SW of the peripheral circuit transistor PT are exposed. For example, the cover insulating film12is removed by RIE. In case that the cover insulating film12and the protective insulating film10are made of the same material, possibly the protective insulating film10is partially etched. However, even if the protective insulating film10is partially etched, there is no problem as long as the silicon nitride film7is not exposed.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the resist14is removed through a combination of ashing, SPM (Sulfuric-Peroxide Mixture) cleaning, and APM (Ammonium-Peroxide Mixture) cleaning. Then the second insulating films11formed on the side face of the second selection gate transistor ST2on the side opposite to the word line WL1and the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT are removed by using the protective insulating film10as a protective film by wet etching with hot phosphoric acid. The sidewall SW formed on the side face of the word line WL1, which faces the side face of the second selection gate transistor ST2, the sidewall SW formed on the side face of the second selection gate transistor ST2, which faces the word line WL1, and the second insulating film11formed between the word lines WL are covered with the cover insulating film12. Therefore, the sidewalls SW and the second insulating film11are not removed.

At this step, it is considered that the sidewall SW is selectively removed using the resist14. However, the resist14is dissolved by the wet etching with hot phosphoric acid. Therefore, the resist14cannot be used as the mask. The sidewall SW is selectively removed using the cover insulating film12. Preferably, the silicon oxide film is used as the protective insulating film10, because an etching selectivity of the protective insulating film10is enhanced relative to the second insulating film11in the wet etching with hot phosphoric acid. Therefore, the sidewalls SW are formed on the side face of the word line WL1, which faces the side face of the second selection gate transistor ST2, and on the side face of the second selection gate transistor ST2, which faces the word line WL1, and the cover insulating film12is formed so as to cover the second insulating film11between the word lines WL.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, the silicon oxide film is deposited on the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate1by, for example, the LP-CVD method to form the spacer insulating film15. In the process, the space between the word line WL and the second selection gate transistor ST2is filled with the spacer insulating film15. At the same time, the spacer insulating film15is formed on the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT. When the cover insulating film12and the spacer insulating film15are made of the same material, the cover insulating film12and the spacer insulating film15form the single-layer insulating film.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the liner insulating film16including the silicon nitride film is formed on the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate1by, for example, the LP-CVD method. At this step, the liner insulating film16is formed along the upper surface of the spacer insulating film15. Then the liner insulating films16except for the liner insulating film16between the selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and on the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT are removed by anisotropic etching such as RIE.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the inter-layer insulating film17is formed by filling the space between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the space between the peripheral circuit transistors PT with the silicon oxide film or BPSG (Boron Phosphorous Silicate Glass). Then the inter-layer insulating film17is flattened by CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) using the silicon nitride film7as a stopper. At this step, the upper surface of the second insulating film11between the word lines WL is exposed. On the other hand, the upper surface of the sidewall SW between the word line WL1and the second selection gate transistor ST2is located lower than the upper surface of the silicon nitride film7and is covered with the spacer insulating film15. Therefore, the upper surface of the sidewall SW between the word line WL1and the second selection gate transistor ST2is not exposed.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, the silicon nitride film7is removed by, for example, RIE to expose the upper surface of the control gate electrode6. The second insulating film11, the cover insulating film12, the liner insulating film16, and the inter-layer insulating film17are slightly removed upon removing the silicon nitride film7.

As illustrated inFIG. 12, silicide is formed in part or the whole of the control gate electrode6to form a silicide layer18. IV-group to XI-group transition metals such as Ni, Ti, Co, Pt, Pd, Ta, and Mo can be used in a metallic material for the silicide layer18.

As illustrated inFIG. 13, the second insulating film11between the word lines WL is removed by wet etching or CDE (Chemical Dry Etching). As a result, a gap is formed between the word lines WL. At this step, the liner insulating film16between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the liner insulating film16of the peripheral circuit transistors PT are also removed, thereby forming a space between the spacer insulating film15and the inter-layer insulating film17.

As illustrated inFIG. 14, the first insulating film19is formed on the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate1by the plasma CVD method. Ordinarily, an embeddability in the plasma CVD method is low. Therefore, the space between the word lines WL, the space between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and the space on the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT are not filled with the first insulating film19. As a result, these spaces become the first cavity portion21and the second cavity portion22. Then the inter-layer insulating film19is formed on the liner insulating film16.

According to the embodiment, the second insulating film11forming the sidewall SW of the peripheral circuit transistor PT is removed. Thereby, the transistor characteristic due to the second insulating film11can be prevented from being deteriorated.

According to the embodiment, the second insulating film11forming the sidewall SW between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2is removed, thereby shrinking, the semiconductor storage device.

According to the embodiment, the first cavity portion21is formed between the word lines WL. The second cavity portion22is formed on the side face between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2, and on the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT. Thereby, a parasitic capacitance or a parasitic fringe capacitance between charge accumulation layers3can be reduced, and the operation speed of the memory cell MC can be enhanced.

According to the embodiment, the second insulating film (sacrifice nitride film)11having the electric breakdown voltage higher than that of the silicon oxide film is formed between the second selection gate transistor ST2and the word line WL1. Thereby, the breakdown voltage can be improved between the second selection gate transistor ST2and the word line WL1.

According to the embodiment, while the second insulating film11and the cover insulating film12are formed between the second selection gate transistor ST2and the adjacent word line WL1, the second insulating film11and the cover insulating film12are not formed between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2. Therefore, the space between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2is wider by the second insulating film11and the cover insulating film12than that of the conventional structure. Thereby, the space between the first and second selection gate transistors ST1, ST2and the contact can be increased to improve a processing margin. Further, because the process margin is improved, the space between the first selection gate transistor ST1and the second selection gate transistor ST2can be shorter than that of the conventional structure. Thereby, the circuit area can be shrunk.

According to the embodiment, the space between the second selection gate transistor ST2and the adjacent word line WL1increases. Thereby, a GIDL (Gate Induced Drain Leakage) current can be reduced to prevent cut-off abnormality.

The second cavity portion22is formed on the side face of the peripheral circuit transistor PT. Therefore, the breakdown voltage can be improved between the gate electrode and the drain electrode. This is particularly effective in case that the peripheral circuit transistor PT is the high-voltage MIS transistor HVTr. Occasionally, a potential difference of 20 V or more is applied between the drain electrode and the gate electrode of the high-voltage MIS transistor HVTr. The electric field from the side face of the gate electrode to the drain electrode is relaxed by the second cavity portion22on the side face of the high-voltage MIS transistor HVTr. Thereby, the breakdown voltage can be improved between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.

In the embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 12 and 13, the second insulating film11is removed after the silicide of the control gate electrode6is formed. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiment. Alternatively, the silicide of the control gate electrode6may be formed after the second insulating film11is removed.

In the embodiment, the semiconductor storage device having the floating gate structure in which the charges are accumulated in the charge accumulation layer3has been described by way of example in the embodiment. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the semiconductor storage device according to the embodiment. The invention can also be applied to a nitride film-trap MONOS (Metal-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon) structure and a SONOS (Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon) structure.

The embodiment is described only by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiment. The technical scope of the invention is described only in claims, and it is noted that meanings equivalent to claims and all the modifications in claims are included in the scope of the invention.