Patent ID: 7651910

Claim:
A method of forming a programmable memory device, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a stack over the substrate; the stack comprising a tunnel oxide, floating gate, dielectric mass and control gate; the stack having a top and having opposing sidewalls extending downwardly from the top, the control gate comprising the top of the stack; depositing silicon nitride along the sidewalls of the stack and directly against the tunnel oxide, the silicon nitride being formed from precursors comprising trichlorosilane and ammonia wherein the trichlorosilane and ammonia are reacted to deposit the silicon nitride over the stack and over exposed surfaces of the semiconductor substrate; and wherein the primary source of silicon for the deposited silicon nitride is the trichlorosilane; forming a silicon nitride layer over and directly against the control gate at the top of the stack; wherein the control gate comprises a first composition of material, and wherein the floating gate comprises a second composition of material, and wherein the first composition is different from the second composition; wherein at least one of the control gate and the floating gate comprises at least amorphous silicon; wherein the depositing of the silicon nitride comprises providing precursors within a reaction chamber to form the silicon nitride; and wherein the precursors provided within the chamber to form the silicon nitride consist of trichlorosilane and ammonia; and wherein the providing of the precursors comprises exposing the precursors to plasma during formation of the silicon nitride.