Patent Abstract:
Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit using selective disposable spacer technology and semiconductor integrated circuits manufactured thereby: The method includes forming a plurality of gate patterns on a semiconductor substrate. Gap regions between the gate patterns include first spaces having a first width and second spaces having a second width greater than the first width. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the second spaces, and spacer layer patterns filling the first spaces are also formed together with the spacers. The spacers are selectively removed to expose the sidewalls of the first spaces. As a result, the semiconductor integrated circuit includes wide spaces enlarged by the removal of the spacers and narrow and deep spaces filled with the spacer layer patterns.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-7547, filed Feb. 6, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit and a semiconductor integrated circuit manufactured thereby and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit using a selective disposable spacer technique and a semiconductor integrated circuit manufactured thereby.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) transistors exhibit various advantages as compared to bipolar transistors. For example, the MOS transistors are suitable for a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) having a high integration density and a low operation voltage with low power consumption. Therefore, most semiconductor ICs employ the MOS transistors as switching elements.  
           [0006]    As semiconductor ICs have become more highly integrated, MOS transistors have been scaled down. As a result, the electrical characteristics and reliability of such semiconductor ICs are sometimes degraded thereby causing malfunctions. For example, attempts to increase device integration density in semiconductor ICs have typically resulted in reduction of the widths of gate electrodes of MOS transistors and in the reduction of junction depths of source/drain regions thereof. In such devices, electrical resistances of the gate electrodes and the source/drain regions are increased, and the reliability (for example, hot carrier effect and short channel effect) and the electrical characteristic.(for example, signal delay time) of the MOS transistors can be degraded. In order to solve these problems, a self-aligned silicide (SALICIDE) technique and a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure have been widely used in fabrication of MOS transistors. Gate spacers are generally formed on the sidewalls of the gate electrodes in order to realize the LDD-type source/drain structure and the SALICIDE technique.  
           [0007]    The fabrication technology of the semiconductor ICs having the gate spacers is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,537 to Jun et al., entitled “Embedded memory logic device using self-aligned silicide and manufacturing method therefore.” 
           [0008]    The manufacturing method of semiconductor devices according to the U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,537 includes preparing a semiconductor substrate that has a DRAM cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Active regions are formed at the semiconductor substrates. Words lines and gate electrodes are formed in the DRAM cell array region and the peripheral circuit region, respectively. The word lines are formed to extend across the active regions in the DRAM cell array region, and the gate electrodes are formed to extend across the active regions in the peripheral circuit region. Impurity ions are then implanted into the active regions using the word lines and the gate electrodes as ion implantation masks, thereby forming low concentration source/drain regions. As a result, first and second low concentration source regions as well as a common low concentration drain region are formed at the respective active regions in the DRAM cell array region. The first and second low concentration source regions correspond to storage node junctions of DRAM cells.  
           [0009]    A conformal spacer layer is formed on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate having the low concentration source/drain regions. A photoresist pattern is formed on the spacer layer. The photoresist pattern is formed over the first and second low concentration source regions. The spacer layer is anisotropically etched using the photoresist pattern as an etch mask. Accordingly, spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the word lines and the gate electrodes. However, the conformal spacer layer on the first and second low concentration source regions is not anisotropically etched due to the photoresist pattern. Therefore, spacer layer patterns acting as salicide blocking patterns are formed on the first and second low concentration source regions. After removing the photoresist pattern, impurity ions are implanted into the active regions using the word lines, the gate electrodes, the spacers and the salicide blocking patterns as ion implantation masks, thereby forming high concentration source/drain regions. As a result, LDD-type source/drain regions are formed in the active regions of the peripheral circuit regions, and LDD-type common drain regions are formed in the active regions of the DRAM cell array region.  
           [0010]    Subsequently, a metal layer is formed on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate having the LDD-type source/drain regions, and the metal layer is annealed to form a metal silicide layer. As a result, the metal silicide layer is selectively formed on the word lines, the common drain regions, the gate electrodes and the source/drain regions in the peripheral circuit region. In other words, the metal silicide layer is not formed on the storage nodes, i.e., the first and second low concentration source regions.  
           [0011]    Eventually, according to the U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,537, the leakage current that flows through the storage node junctions can be reduced.  
           [0012]    In addition, spacers are widely used in fabrication of self-aligned contact holes. In this case, the spacers are formed of an insulating layer (for example, a silicon nitride layer) having an etching selectivity with respect to a conventional interlayer insulating layer.  
           [0013]    However, if spaces between interconnection lines such as the word lines are reduced, actual areas of the source/drain regions exposed by the self-aligned contact holes are greatly reduced because of the presence of the spacers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention provides, among other things, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit using a selective disposable spacer technique and a semiconductor integrated circuit manufactured thereby.  
           [0015]    In one embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit includes forming a device isolation layer at a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate to define a first active region and a second active region. A plurality of first gate patterns extend across the first active region. The regions between the first gate patterns include a first opening having a first width and a second opening having a second width greater than the first width. The device isolation layer exposed by the first opening is selectively removed. A second gate pattern is formed across the second active region. Low concentration source/drain regions are formed in the second active region located on both sides of the second gate pattern. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the second opening and on sidewalls of the second gate pattern. Also, a spacer layer pattern filling the first opening is concurrently formed with the spacers. High concentration source/drain regions adjacent the low concentration source/drain regions are formed in the second active region to provide LDD-type source/drain regions including the low concentration source/drain regions and the high concentration source/drain regions. The spacers are then removed to expose the sidewalls of the second opening and the second gate pattern. During removal of the spacers, a recessed spacer layer pattern remains in the first opening.  
           [0016]    In some embodiments, a first impurity region having a line-shaped configuration may be formed at the surface of the semiconductor substrate exposed by the first opening, prior to formation of the second gate pattern. Then, a second impurity region having an island-shaped configuration may be formed at the surface of the first active region exposed by the second opening. Alternatively, the first and second impurity regions can be concurrently formed using a single step ion implantation process.  
           [0017]    In accordance with another embodiment, the semiconductor integrated circuit includes a device isolation layer formed at a semiconductor substrate to define first and second active regions. A plurality of first gate patterns extend across the first active region. The regions between the first gate patterns include a first opening having a first width and a second opening having a second width greater than the first width. A second gate pattern extends across the second active region. The first opening is filled with a recessed spacer layer pattern. LDD-type source/drain regions are formed in the second active region located on both sides of the second gate pattern.  
           [0018]    In some embodiments, a first impurity region having a line-shaped configuration may be disposed at the surface of the semiconductor substrate underneath the first opening. Also, a second impurity region having an island-shaped configuration may be disposed at the surface of the first active region underneath the second opening. As a result, the first impurity region is covered with the recessed spacer layer pattern.  
           [0019]    In accordance with one embodiment, the method of manufacturing a flash memory device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. A device isolation layer is formed at a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate to define a cell active region and a peripheral circuit active region in the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region respectively. A stacked gate layer and a peripheral circuit gate layer are then formed in the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region respectively. The stacked gate layer is patterned to form a plurality of stacked gate patterns that extend across the cell active region. The regions between the stacked gate patterns include first openings having a first width and second openings having a second width greater than the first width. The device isolation layer exposed by the first openings is selectively removed. The peripheral circuit gate layer is patterned to form a peripheral circuit gate electrode that extends across the peripheral circuit active region. Impurity ions are implanted into the peripheral circuit active region using the peripheral circuit gate electrode as an ion implantation mask. As a result, low concentration source/drain regions are formed at the peripheral circuit active region. Spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the second openings and on sidewalls of the peripheral circuit gate electrode. Spacer layer patterns filling the first openings are concurrently formed with the spacers. High concentration source/drain regions are formed at the peripheral circuit active region using the peripheral circuit gate electrode and the spacers on the sidewall of the peripheral circuit gate electrode as ion implantation masks to provide LDD-type source/drain regions including the low concentration source/drain regions and the high concentration source/drain regions. The spacers are removed to expose the sidewalls of the second openings and the peripheral circuit gate electrode. During removal of the spacers, recessed spacer layer patterns remain in the first openings.  
           [0020]    In some embodiments, before forming the peripheral circuit gate electrode, line-shaped common source regions and island-shaped drain regions may be formed at the surface of the semiconductor substrate exposed by the first openings and at the surface of the cell active region exposed by the second openings respectively. As a result, the common source regions are covered with the spacer layer patterns.  
           [0021]    In accordance with another embodiment, the flash memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. A device isolation layer is formed at a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate. The device isolation layer defines a cell active region and a peripheral circuit active region in the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region, respectively. A plurality of stacked gate patterns extend across the cell active region. The regions between the stacked gate patterns include first openings having a first width and second openings having a second width greater than the first width. A peripheral circuit gate electrode extends across the peripheral circuit active region. The first openings are filled with recessed spacer layer patterns. LDD-type source/drain regions are disposed at the peripheral circuit active region located on both sides of the peripheral circuit gate electrode.  
           [0022]    According to still another embodiment, line-shaped common source regions may be disposed at the surface of the semiconductor substrate underneath the first openings. Also, island-shaped drain regions may be disposed at the surface of the cell active region underneath the second openings. As a result, the common source regions are covered with the recessed spacer layer patterns. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the detailed description that follows when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating a semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 2A to  14 A are sectional views, taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1, illustrating a fabrication method of a semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 2B to  14 B are sectional views, taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 1, illustrating a fabrication method of a semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 2C to  14 C are sectional views, taken along line III-III′ of FIG. 1, illustrating a fabrication method of a semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 2D to  14 D are sectional views, taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 1, illustrating a fabrication method of a semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter in conjunction with a NOR-type flash memory device with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, the present invention may be applied to NAND-type flash memory devices within spirit and scope of the invention. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a NOR flash memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 14A, 14B,  14 C and  14 D are sectional views taken along lines I-I′, II-II′, III-III′ and IV-IV′ of FIG. 1, respectively.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 14A,  14 B,  14 C and  14 D, a semiconductor substrate  1  has a cell array region A and a peripheral circuit region B surrounding the cell array region A. The peripheral circuit region B may correspond to a high voltage MOS transistor region or a low voltage MOS transistor region. In this embodiment, for simplicity, it is assumed that the peripheral circuit region B is an NMOS transistor region. A device isolation layer is located at a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate  1 . The device isolation layer defines first and second active regions in the cell array region A and the peripheral circuit region B, respectively.  
         [0032]    In more detail, the device isolation layer defines cell active regions  37   c  (FIG. 1) and a peripheral circuit active region  37   p  (FIG. 1) in the cell array region A and the peripheral circuit region B, respectively. Preferably, the device isolation layer includes a cell device isolation layer  39   b  (FIG. 14A) formed in the cell array region A and a peripheral circuit device isolation layer  39   a  (FIG. 14A) formed in the peripheral circuit region B. In this case, the cell device isolation layer  39   b  is preferably thinner than the peripheral circuit device isolation layer  39   a.    
         [0033]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14 c,  a plurality of first gate patterns  52   a,  e.g., a plurality of stacked gate patterns, extend across the cell active regions  37   c.  Each of the stacked gate patterns  52   a  includes a tunnel insulating layer pattern such as a tunnel oxide layer pattern  19   a,  a floating gate FG, an inter-gate dielectric layer  47  and a control gate electrode CG, which are sequentially stacked. The control gate electrodes CG extend across the cell active regions  37   c  and the cell device isolation layer  39   b  between the cell active regions  37   c.  Further, the floating gates FG are located between the control gate electrodes CG and the cell active regions  37   c.  Each of the control gate electrodes CG may include first and second control gate electrodes  49   c  and  51   c,  which are sequentially stacked, and each of the floating gates FG may include a lower floating gate  21   f  and an upper floating gate  41   f,  which are sequentially stacked.  
         [0034]    On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the regions between the stacked gate patterns  52   a  define first spaces having a first width S1 and second spaces having a second width S2 greater than the first width S1.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 14A, the first spaces are filled with recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a.  First impurity regions  55  having a line shape, e.g., common source regions are formed at the surface of the semiconductor substrate under the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a.  As a result, the common source regions  55  are covered with the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a.  In this case, as shown in FIG. 14B, the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a  also fill the regions where the cell device isolation layer between the cell active regions  37   c  is removed. In addition, second impurity regions  57  having an island shape, e.g., drain regions are formed at the surfaces of the cell active regions  37   c  under the second spaces.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 1, a peripheral circuit gate electrode G extends across the peripheral circuit active region  37   p.  Also, as shown in FIG. 12A, the peripheral circuit gate electrode G includes a lower gate electrode  15   h,  a first upper gate electrode  41   h  and a second upper gate electrode  51   h,  which are sequentially stacked. A gate insulating layer  11   b  is disposed between the peripheral circuit gate electrode G and the peripheral circuit active region  37   p.  The gate insulating layer  11   b  may be a high voltage gate insulating layer or a low voltage gate insulating layer.  
         [0037]    LDD-type source/drain regions are formed at the peripheral circuit active region  37   p.  The LDD-type source/drain regions are formed on both sides of the peripheral circuit gate electrode G. Each of the LDD-type source/drain regions includes a low concentration source/drain region  61  adjacent the peripheral circuit gate electrode G and a high concentration source/drain region  69  adjacent the low concentration source/drain region  61 .  
         [0038]    A stress buffer oxide layer  63  may be interposed between the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a  and the common source regions  55 . The stress buffer oxide layer  63  preferably covers the stacked gate patterns  52   a,  the drain regions  57 , the device isolation layers  39   a  and  39   b,  the LDD-type source/drain regions, and the peripheral circuit gate electrode G. The stress buffer oxide layer  63  alleviates physical stresses applied to the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a.    
         [0039]    Further, the surface of the semiconductor substrate having the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a  is covered with a conformal etching stop layer  71  (FIG. 14A). The conformal etching stop layer  71  is covered with an interlayer insulating layer  73 . It is preferable that the conformal etching stop layer  71  is an insulating layer having an etch selectivity with respect to the interlayer insulating layer  73 . For example, the etching stop layer  71  may be a silicon nitride layer. In this case, the stress buffer oxide layer  63  is located under the etching stop layer  71  and the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a.    
         [0040]    The LDD-type source/drain regions and the peripheral circuit gate electrode G are exposed by first contact holes  75  that penetrate the interlayer insulating layer  73  and the etching stop layer  71 . Also, the drain regions  57  are exposed by second contact holes  77  that penetrate the interlayer insulating layer  73  and the etching stop layer  71 . Plug ion implantation regions  78  may be additionally formed in the drain regions  57 . The plug ion implantation regions  78  are self-aligned with the second contact holes  77 . The first and second contact holes  75  and  77  are filled with first and second contact plugs  79   a  and  79   b  respectively. Metal interconnection lines  81   a  and  81   b  covering the first and second contact plugs  79   a  and  79   b  are disposed on the interlayer insulating layer  73 .  
         [0041]    Methods for manufacturing the flash memory devices according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 2A to  14 A are sectional views taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 2B to  14 B are sectional views taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 1. Also, FIGS. 2C to  14 C are sectional views taken along line III-III′ of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 2D to  14 D are sectional views taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 1.  
         [0043]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D, a semiconductor substrate  1  such as a P-type silicon wafer is prepared. The semiconductor substrate  1  includes a cell array region A and a peripheral circuit region B. The peripheral circuit region B may be a high voltage MOS transistor region or a low voltage MOS transistor region. In this embodiment, for simplicity, it is assumed that the peripheral circuit region B is an NMOS transistor region. A gate insulating layer  11  and a lower gate conductive layer  15  are sequentially formed on the semiconductor substrate  1 . The lower gate conductive layer  15  may be a doped polysilicon layer. The lower gate conductive layer  15  and the gate insulating layer  11  are patterned to expose the semiconductor substrate  1  in the cell array region A. A tunnel insulating layer  19  and a lower floating gate layer  21  are sequentially formed on the exposed semiconductor substrate  1 . The tunnel insulating layer  19  may comprises a thermal oxide layer. The lower floating gate layer  21  may comprises a doped polysilicon layer.  
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 3A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D, a polishing stop layer and a hard mask layer are sequentially formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate  1  having the lower floating gate layer  21  and the lower gate conductive layer  15 . The polishing stop layer and the hard mask layer are preferably formed of a silicon nitride layer and a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) oxide layer, respectively. A buffer oxide layer can be additionally formed prior to formation of the polishing stop layer. The buffer oxide layer acts as a stress buffer layer for alleviating physical stresses resulting from the polishing stop layer.  
         [0045]    As shown in  3 A, the hard mask layer, the polishing stop layer, the buffer oxide layer, the lower floating gate layer  21 , the lower gate conductive layer, the tunnel oxide layer  19 , and the gate insulating layer  11  are patterned to form first and second trench mask patterns  33   a  and  33   b  in the cell array region A and the peripheral circuit region B, respectively. As a result, each of the first trench mask patterns  33   a  includes a tunnel insulating layer pattern such as a tunnel oxide layer pattern  19   a,  a lower floating gate pattern  21   a,  a buffer oxide layer pattern  27   a,  a polishing stop layer pattern  29   a,  and a hard mask pattern  31   a,  which are sequentially stacked, and the second trench mask pattern  33   b  includes a gate insulating layer pattern  11   b,  a lower gate conductive layer pattern  15   b,  a buffer oxide layer pattern  27   b,  a polishing stop layer pattern  29   b,  and a hard mask pattern  31   b,  which are sequentially stacked.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 4A,  4 B,  4 C and  4 D, a photoresist pattern  35  covering the cell array region A is formed. The semiconductor substrate  1  is etched using the photoresist pattern  35  and the second trench mask pattern  33   b  as etch masks, thereby forming a preliminary peripheral circuit trench region  37   a  in the peripheral circuit region B. The photoresist pattern  35  is then removed.  
         [0047]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 5A,  5 B,  5 C and  5 D, the semiconductor substrate  1  is again etched using the first and second trench mask patterns  33   a  and  33   b  as etch masks. As a result, a peripheral circuit trench region  37   a′,  which is deeper than the preliminary peripheral circuit trench region  37   a,  is formed in the peripheral circuit region B, and a cell trench region  37   b,  which is shallower than the peripheral circuit trench region  37   a′,  is formed in the cell array region A. The cell trench region  37   b  defines cell active regions  37   c  in the cell array region A, and the peripheral circuit trench region  37   a′  defines a peripheral circuit active region  37   p  in the peripheral circuit region B.  
         [0048]    The peripheral circuit trench region  37   a′  is preferably formed to have a sufficient depth suitable for improving device isolation characteristics of a peripheral circuit MOS transistor to be formed in subsequent processes. On the contrary, the cell trench region  37   b  should have a shallow depth suitable for formation of a common source region to be formed in subsequent processes. As a result, it is preferable that the peripheral circuit trench region  37   a′  is deeper than the cell trench region  3     7 b.    
         [0049]    However, the trench regions  37   a′  and  37   b  may be formed using a single step of etching process without use of the photoresist pattern  35  shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B,  4 C and  4 D. In this case, the cell trench region  37   b  has the same depth as the peripheral circuit trench region  37   a′.    
         [0050]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 6A,  6 B,  6 C and  6 D, a cell device isolation layer  39   b  and a peripheral circuit device isolation layer  39   a  are respectively formed in the cell trench region  37   b  and the peripheral circuit trench region  37   a′  using a conventional method. The hard mask patterns  31   a  and  31   b  are removed during formation of the device isolation layers  39   a  and  39   b,  thereby exposing the polishing stop layer patterns  29   a  and  29   b.  Preferably, the device isolation layers  39   a  and  39   b  are recessed as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B,  6 C and  6 D to have substantially the same height as the top surfaces of the lower floating gate patterns  21   a.    
         [0051]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 7A,  7 B,  7 C and  7 D, the polishing stop layer patterns  29   a  and  29   b  and the buffer oxide layer patterns  27   a  and  27   b  are removed to expose the lower floating gate patterns  21   a  and the lower gate conductive layer pattern  15   b.  A first conductive layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate  1  where the polishing stop layer patterns  29   a  and  29   b  as well as the buffer oxide layer patterns  27   a  and  27   b  are removed. The second conductive layer preferably may include a doped polysilicon layer. The second conductive layer is patterned to form upper floating gate patterns  41   a  covering the lower floating gate patterns  21   a  and concurrently form a first upper gate conductive layer  41   b  covering the peripheral circuit region B. The upper floating gate patterns  41   a  are preferably formed to be wider than the lower floating gate patterns  21   a.    
         [0052]    Subsequently, an inter-gate dielectric layer  47  and a second conductive layer  49  are sequentially formed on the semiconductor substrate having the upper floating gate patterns  41   a  and the first upper gate conductive layer  41   b.  The second conductive layer  49  may include a doped polysilicon layer.  
         [0053]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 8A,  8 B,  8 C and  8 D, the second conductive layer  49  and the inter-gate dielectric layer  47  are patterned to expose the first upper gate conductive layer  41   b  in the peripheral circuit region B. As a result, a first control gate conductive layer  49   a  is formed in the cell array region A, and the inter-gate dielectric layer  47  is remained under the first control gate conductive layer  49   a.  A third conductive layer  51  is formed on the semiconductor substrate having the first control gate conductive layer  49   a.  The third conductive layer  51  preferably includes a material layer that has a lower resistivity than the doped polysilicon layer. For example, the third conductive layer  51  may be formed of a metal silicide layer such as a tungsten silicide layer. The third conductive layer  51  on the cell array region A corresponds to a second control gate conductive layer, and the third conductive layer  51  on the peripheral circuit region B corresponds to a second upper gate conductive layer. The process for forming the third conductive layer  51  is omitted for simplicity.  
         [0054]    In the cell array region A, the lower floating gate patterns  21   a,  the upper floating gate patterns  41   a,  the inter-gate dielectric layer  47 , the first control gate conductive layer  49   a  and the second control gate conductive layer  51  constitute a stacked gate layer. Also, in the peripheral circuit region B, the first and second upper gate conductive layers  41   b  and  51  as well as the lower gate conductive layer pattern  15   b  constitute a peripheral circuit gate layer.  
         [0055]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 9A,  9 B,  9 C and  9 D, the stacked gate layer is patterned to form a plurality of first gate patterns  52   a,  e.g., stacked gate patterns that extend across the cell active regions  37   c  in the cell array region A. As a result, each of the stacked gate patterns  52   a  includes a tunnel insulating layer such as a tunnel oxide layer pattern  19   a,  a floating gate FG, an inter-gate dielectric layer  47  and a control gate electrode CG, which are sequentially stacked.  
         [0056]    As shown in FIG. 1, the floating gates FG are formed at the intersections of the control gate electrodes CG and the cell active regions  37   c.  In other words, the floating gates FG are disposed between the control gate electrodes CG and the cell active regions  37   c.  On the contrary, the control gate electrodes CG extend across the cell active regions  37   c  as well as the cell device isolation layer  39   b  between the cell active regions  37   c.  Each of the floating gates FG includes a lower floating gate  21   f  and an upper floating gate  41   f,  which are sequentially stacked, and each of the control gate electrodes CG includes a first control gate electrode  49   c  and a second control gate electrode  51   c,  which are sequentially stacked.  
         [0057]    The regions between the stacked gate patterns  52   a  include first spaces SO and second spaces DO. The first spaces SO have a first width S1, and the second spaces DO have a second width S2 greater than the first width S1. A photoresist pattern  53  is formed on the semiconductor substrate having the stacked gate patterns  52   a.  The photoresist pattern  53  is formed to cover the second spaces DO as well as the peripheral circuit region B. In other words, the photoresist pattern  53  is formed to selectively expose the first spaces SO.  
         [0058]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 10A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D, the cell device isolation layer  39   b  is selectively etched using the photoresist pattern  53  as an etch mask. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10B, the cell trench region  37   b  is again formed between the cell active regions  37   c  in the first spaces SO. That is, the bottom surfaces of the first spaces SO exhibit uneven and stepped profiles in the direction across the cell active regions  37   c.    
         [0059]    N-type impurity ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate using the photoresist pattern  53  as an ion implantation mask. As a result, first impurity regions  55 , e.g., common source regions having line shapes are formed at the surface of the semiconductor substrate exposed by the first spaces SO. In this case, the ion implantation process is preferably performed using a tilted ion implantation process in order to reduce electrical resistance of the common source regions  55  formed at side walls of the cell trench regions in the first spaces SO. In addition, the trench region  37   b  is preferably shallow to reduce the electrical resistance of the common source regions  55  as described in FIGS. 9A to  9 D.  
         [0060]    Subsequently, after removing the photoresist pattern  53 , N-type impurity ions are selectively implanted into the first and second spaces SO and DO using the stacked gate patterns  52   a,  the upper gate conductive layers  41   b  and  51   b,  and the cell device isolation layer  39   b  as ion implantation masks. As a result, island-shaped second impurity regions  57 , e.g., drain regions are formed at the surfaces of the cell active regions  37   c  exposed by the second spaces DO. During the ion implantation process for forming the drain regions  57 , the N-type impurity ions are additionally implanted into the common source regions  55 . Therefore, the impurity concentration of the common source regions  55  is more increased to reduce the electrical resistance of the common source regions  55 .  
         [0061]    The ion implantation process for forming the common source regions  55  may be omitted prior to removal of the photoresist pattern  53 . In this case, the common source regions  55  and the drain regions  57  are concurrently formed using only a single step ion implantation process.  
         [0062]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 11A,  11 B,  11 C and  11 D, the peripheral circuit gate layer is patterned to form a second gate pattern G, e.g., a peripheral circuit gate electrode in the peripheral circuit region B. The peripheral circuit gate electrode G extends across the peripheral circuit active region  37   p.  The peripheral circuit gate electrode G includes a lower gate electrode  15   h,  a first upper gate electrode  41   h  and a second upper gate electrode  51   h,  which are sequentially stacked.  
         [0063]    N-type impurity ions  59  are implanted into the active regions  37   c  and  37   p  at a low dose of 1×1012 atoms/cm 2  to 1×1014 atoms/cm 2  using the stacked gate patterns  52   a,  the peripheral circuit gate electrode G, and the device isolation layers  39   a  and  39   b  as ion implantation masks. As a result, low concentration source/drain regions  61  are formed at the peripheral circuit active region  37   p.    
         [0064]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 12A,  12 B,  12 C and  12 D, a spacer layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate having the low concentration source/drain regions  61 . The spacer layer may include an insulating layer having an etching selectivity with respect to a silicon oxide layer. For example, the spacer layer may include a silicon nitride layer. Also, the spacer layer is formed to a thickness that is greater than half of the first width S1 and less than half of the second width S2. Therefore, the first spaces SO are filled with the spacer layer. A stress buffer oxide layer  63  is preferably formed on the semiconductor substrate  1  having the low concentration source/drain regions  61  prior to formation of the spacer layer. The stress buffer oxide layer  63  is formed in order to alleviate the stress applied to the spacer layer. The stress buffer oxide layer  63  may be formed of a CVD oxide layer such as a medium temperature oxide (MTO) layer. Further, the stress buffer oxide layer  63  is preferably formed to a thin thickness of about 200 angstroms.  
         [0065]    As shown in FIG. 12, the spacer layer is anisotropically etched to form spacers  65  on sidewalls of the second spaces DO and on sidewalls of the peripheral circuit gate electrode G. In this case, the first spaces SO are still filled with the anisotropically etched spacer layer patterns  65 ′. In other words, the stress buffer oxide layer  63  on the common source regions  55  is still covered with the spacer layer patterns  65 ′ even after the spacers  65  are formed. On the other hand, the stress buffer oxide layers  63  on the drain regions  57  and the low concentration source/drain regions  61  are exposed after the spacers  65  are formed.  
         [0066]    If the spacer layer is over-etched, the drain regions  57  and the low concentration source/drain regions  61  may be exposed. Nevertheless, the spacer layer patterns  65 ′ on the common source regions  55  have a different configuration from the spacers  65  and are not easily removed.  
         [0067]    A photoresist pattern  67  covering the cell array region A is then formed. Using the photoresist pattern  67 , the peripheral circuit gate electrode G, the spacers  65  and the peripheral circuit device isolation layer  39   a  as ion implantation masks, N-type impurity ions are implanted into the peripheral circuit active region  37   p  at a high dose of 1 ×1015 atoms/cm 2  to 5×1015 atoms/cm 2 , thereby forming high concentration source/drain regions  69  adjacent the low concentration source/drain regions  61 . As a result, LDD-type source/drain regions including the low concentration source/drain regions  61  and the high concentration source/drain regions  69  are formed in the peripheral circuit region B. Each of the second spaces DO has a third width S3, which is less than the second width (S2 of FIGS. 14A and 1) because of the spacers  65 .  
         [0068]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 13A,  13 B,  13 C and  13 D, the photoresist pattern  67  is removed. In general, the spacers  65  are used in formation of the LDD-type source/drain regions as described above. Therefore, it is preferable that the spacers  65  are removed after formation of the LDD-type source/drain regions. This is because the spacers  65  may cause problems in subsequent processing steps. For example, when the spacers  65  exist, there is a limitation in increasing the widths of contact holes to be formed in order to expose the drain regions  57  and the LDD-type source/drain regions in subsequent processes. On the contrary, it is preferable that the spacer layer patterns  65 ′ in the first spaces SO are not removed. This is because when the spacer layer patterns  65 ′ are removed the aspect ratio of the first spaces SO is greatly increased to generate voids in the first spaces SO during formation of an interlayer insulating layer in subsequent processes. These voids may cause unstable electrical characteristics in flash memory cells.  
         [0069]    As a result, it is preferable that the spacers  65  are removed using a wet etching process. The wet etching process may be performed using a phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ). The spacer layer patterns  65 ′ should not be removed during the wet etching process. Therefore, the wet etching process should be performed for a proper duration. As a result, recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a  remain in the first spaces SO.  
         [0070]    Preferably, an etching stop layer  71  is formed on the semiconductor substrate  1  having the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a.  The etching stop layer  71  is formed to a thickness, which is less than the width of the spacers  65 . Thus, the second spaces DO have a fourth width S4 that is greater than the third width S3. The etching stop layer  71  may be formed of an insulating layer that has an etching selectivity with respect to a conventional interlayer insulating layer. For example, the etching stop layer  71  may include a silicon nitride layer. An interlayer insulating layer  73  is formed on the etching stop layer  71 . In this case, voids can be prevented from being formed in the first spaces SO because of the presence of the recessed spacer layer patterns  65   a.    
         [0071]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 14A,  14 B,  14 C and  14 D, the interlayer insulating layer  73 , the etching stop layer  71  and the stress buffer oxide layer  63  are patterned to form first contact holes  75  that expose the LDD-type source/drain regions in the peripheral circuit region B. The peripheral circuit gate electrode G may be also exposed during formation of the first contact holes  75 . Then, the interlayer insulating layer  73 , the etching stop layer  71  and the stress buffer oxide layer  63  are again patterned to form second contact holes  77  that expose the drain regions  57 . Removal of the spacers  65  may lead to maximization of widths of the first and second contact holes  75  and  77 . As a result, it is possible to reduce contact resistance.  
         [0072]    Furthermore, N-type impurity ions may be additionally implanted into the drain regions  57  through the second contact holes  77 . As a result, plug ion implantation regions  78 , which are self-aligned with the second contact holes  77 , are formed in the drain regions  57 . The plug ion implantation regions  78  lead to a reduction in the contact resistance of the drain regions  57  and prevent the junction spiking phenomenon from being occurred in the drain regions  57 .  
         [0073]    Alternatively, the first contact holes  75  and the second contact holes  77  can be concurrently formed using a single step of an etching process.  
         [0074]    Subsequently, first and second contact plugs  79   a  and  79   b  are respectively formed in the first and second contact holes  75  and  77  using a conventional method. The contact plugs  79   a  and  79   b  are formed of a tungsten layer.  
         [0075]    A metal layer such as an aluminum layer is formed on the interlayer insulating layer  73 . The metal layer is patterned to form first metal interconnection lines  81   a  and second metal interconnection lines  81   b  in the peripheral circuit region B and the cell array region A, respectively. The second metal interconnection lines  81   b  extend across the control gate electrodes CG and acts as bit lines of flash memory cells. The bit lines  81   b  are electrically connected to the drain regions  57  through the second contact plugs  79   b.  The first and second metal interconnection lines  81   a  and  81   b  may be formed using a conventional damascene process that employs a metal layer such as a copper layer.  
         [0076]    According to the present invention as described above, narrow spaces of the regions between the stacked gate patterns are filled with recessed spacer layer patterns, whereas spacers formed on sidewalls of the stacked gate patterns and the peripheral circuit gate electrode are removed after formation of LDD-type source/drain regions in the peripheral circuit region. Accordingly, it is possible to maximize widths of contact holes that expose the source/drain regions, and it can prevent voids from being formed in the narrow spaces. As a result, reliable and highly-integrated flash memory devices can be realized.  
         [0077]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7