Patent Abstract:
A method of fabricating a flash memory includes forming a first oxide film over a semiconductor substrate, forming a metal film over the first oxide film, forming a photoresist pattern on the metal film, etching the metal film using the photoresist pattern as a mask and forming a metal film pattern, forming a second oxide film overlying the metal film pattern, and heat-treating the first and second oxide films at high temperature and processing the metal film pattern using metal oxide crystallization.

Full Description:
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0131494 (filed on Dec. 21, 2006) which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Flash memory may be a non-volatile memory medium having electrical data incapable of being erased although the flash memory is powered off. For semiconductor devices having high integration, a small-sized flash memory may be obtained. The floating gate (FG) of such a small-sized flash memory, in turn, may have a simple structure. Particularly, for semiconductor devices of 100 nm or less, the simplification of a floating gate is important since channel width is reduced. 
     Flash memory can be advantageous for exhibiting high data processing such as recording, reading, and erasing. Accordingly, flash memory is suitable for applications for basic I/O system (BIOS) for personal computer (PC) and data storage for a desk top box, a printer, a network server, and the like. Flash memory is also suitable for digital cameras, portable phones, and the like. 
     Flash memory has certain disadvantages such as high operational voltage of about 9V to 12V. It can be difficult to reduce the operational voltage without a reduction in other functions and without reducing reliability. Moreover, fabricating a flash memory that can be driven at low voltages of 5V or less using an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) structure can be difficult. 
     Such low operational voltages may be achieved through the use of flash memory fabrication processes involving nano-dot or nano-crystal structures. The density of nano-dot structures leads to differences in information storage capability of flash memory and thus, great density is desirable. However, small gaps between nano-dots may cause increases in leakage current and also a reduction in maintenance time. Accordingly, controlling the gap between nano-dots is important to fabricating a flash memory having a low operational voltage. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments relate to a method of fabricating a flash memory that can be driven at low voltages using a uniform metal oxide crystal within an oxide film. 
     In accordance with embodiments, a method of fabricating a flash memory may include at least one of the following steps. Forming a first oxide film on and/or over a semiconductor substrate. Forming a metal film on and/or over the first oxide film. Forming a photoresist pattern on and/or over the metal film. Etching the metal film using the photoresist pattern as a mask and forming a metal film pattern. Forming a second oxide film including the metal film pattern. Heat-treating the first and second oxide films at a predetermined temperature and processing the metal film pattern by metal oxide crystallization. 
     In accordance with embodiments, a flash memory may include a semiconductor substrate, a first oxide film formed on and/or over the semiconductor substrate, a second oxide film formed on and/or over the first oxide film and burying a metal oxide crystal, and a gate formed on and/or over the second oxide film. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Example  FIGS. 1 to 6  illustrate a method of fabricating a flash memory, in accordance with embodiments. 
       Example  FIG. 7  illustrates a flash memory, in accordance with embodiments. 
       Example  FIG. 8  illustrates a mask with a dot pattern formed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with embodiments, each layer (film), region, pattern, or structure can be formed “on/above/over/upper” or “down/below/under/lower” than each layer (film), region, pad, or pattern is intended to mean that each layer (film), region, pad, or structure is formed in direct contact with each layer (film), region, pad, or pattern. Alternately, in accordance with embodiments, it is intended that a different layer (film), a different region, a different pad, a different pattern, or a different structure is additionally formed therebetween. 
     As illustrated in example  FIG. 1 , device isolation film  11  and source/drain region  12  can be formed in semiconductor substrate  10 . First oxide film  20  can then be formed on and/or over semiconductor substrate  10  which can include a silicon wafer. Semiconductor substrate  10  can be a P-type semiconductor substrate or an N-type semiconductor substrate. The P-type semiconductor substrate can be formed using low-concentration ion doping of P-type dopants. The N-type semiconductor substrate can be formed using low-concentration ion doping of N-type dopants. First oxide film  20  can be formed through oxidation of semiconductor substrate  10  and have a thickness in a range between approximately 60 Å to 100 Å. 
     Metal film  30  can be formed on and/or over first oxide film  20 . Metal film  30  may be at least one of a nickel film, a titanium film, and a cobalt film. Metal film  30  may be formed having a thickness range of approximately 40 Å to 60 Å. Metal film  30  may be formed having a thickness of about 50 Å. 
     As illustrated in example  FIG. 2 , photoresist film  40  can be coated on and/or over metal film  30 . Photoresist film  40  may be a positive or negative photoresist film. As illustrated in example  FIG. 3 , photoresist film  40  may then be projected and exposed with a photoresist pattern using exposure equipment such as a stepper to form photoresist pattern  41 . Photoresist pattern  41  may alternatively be formed using ion implantation without exposure and developing. 
     As illustrated in example  FIG. 8 , photoresist pattern  41  may use a mask having dot pattern  3  to form a substantially circular-shaped metal film pattern having a diameter of approximately 100 Å to 500 Å in a subsequent process. Meaning, dot pattern  3  can be formed such that its diameter is within a range of about 100 Å to 500 Å and an inter-pattern interval (I) can be greater than at least the diameter of dot pattern  3 . 
     As illustrated in example  FIG. 4 , metal film  30  can be etched using photoresist pattern  41  as a mask to form metal film pattern  31 . By the photoresist pattern  41  having the dot pattern (D), the metal film pattern  31  is formed to have a diameter of about 100 Å to 500 Å. An interval between the metal film patterns  31  is within a range of at least 100 Å to 500 Å or more. After that, the photoresist pattern  41  is removed. 
     As illustrated in example  FIG. 5 , second oxide film  25  can be formed on and/or over first oxide film  20  on which metal film pattern  31  is formed. Thus, the metal film pattern  31  is included within the second oxide film  25 . Second oxide film  25  can be formed by growing first oxide film  20  or by a separate oxide film deposition process. 
     As illustrated in example  FIG. 6 , first oxide film  20  and second oxide film  25  including the metal film pattern  31  can be heat-treated at a high temperature and oxidized. Oxidation of metal film pattern  31  leads to formation of a plurality of metal oxide crystals  32  having a uniform density and size. Finally, gate  35  may be formed on and/or over second oxide film  25 . 
     As illustrated in example  FIG. 7 , device isolation region  11  and source/drain regions  12  can be formed in semiconductor substrate  10 . A channel region can be formed between source/drain regions  12 . Source/drain regions  12  can be low concentration source/drain regions and high concentration source/drain regions. 
     First oxide film  20  can be formed on and/or over semiconductor substrate  10 . Second oxide film  25  in which a plurality of metal oxide crystals  32  is buried can be formed on and/or over first oxide film  20 . Metal oxide crystal  32  can be at least one of nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), and cobalt (Co). Metal oxide crystal can have a diameter range of between approximately 100 Å to 500 Å. Metal oxide crystals  32  can be formed such that an interval or gap (I) between metal oxide crystals  32  is greater than at least the diameter of metal oxide crystals  32 . Accordingly, it can be greater than at least 100 Å to 500 Å. Gate  35  can be formed on and/or over second oxide film  25 . Gate  35  can be a floating gate. 
     In a flash memory fabricated in accordance with embodiments, driving can occur even at low voltages by forming a uniform metal oxide crystal within the oxide film using a photolithography process. Formation of a plurality of metal oxide crystals  32  within second oxide film  25  may be used to serve as a deep-level trap center. Metal oxide crystals  32  may also have a uniform density and size and a contact prevention interval by patterning and high-temperature heat-treatment. Such a configuration can minimize, reduce or otherwise prevent occurrences of leakage current between metal oxide crystals  32 . 
     Although embodiments have been described herein, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1