Patent ID: 7619274

Claim:
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a silicon layer of a first conductivity type; and a gate element formed on the silicon layer, and comprising: a tunnel insulating film which is selectively formed on a main surface of the silicon layer, the tunnel insulating film forming a three-layer structure including a silicon nitride film and silicon oxide films between which the silicon nitride film is sandwiched, the silicon nitride film including an uneven surface with projections and depressions, and triple coordinate nitrogen bonds, the triple coordinate nitrogen bonds including a nitrogen atom which is bonded to three silicon atoms and has no dangling bonds, an upper surface of an upper one of the silicon oxide films being more planar than the silicon nitride film, the silicon nitride film being continuously formed in an in-plane direction, an average of differences between the projections and depressions being set at 0.14 nm or more; a floating gate electrode formed on the tunnel insulating film; an interelectrode insulating film formed on the floating gate electrode; a control gate electrode formed on the interelectrode insulating film; and source and drain regions of a second conductivity type, the source and drain regions being formed in the main surface of the silicon layer with the gate element being arranged between the source and drain regions.