Patent ID: 8525275

Claim:
A method of forming a non-volatile memory device, the method comprising: forming a dielectric layer including an oxide layer and a nitride layer on a substrate; transforming at least a portion of the nitride layer extending across at least a major lateral extent of the dielectric layer to include added oxygen; forming a charge storage layer on the dielectric layer; forming a blocking insulating layer on the charge storage layer; and forming a gate electrode on the blocking insulating layer, wherein the transforming at least a portion of the nitride layer comprises oxidizing the nitride layer, wherein the nitride layer is fully oxidized, wherein an interface of the substrate and the oxide layer includes a first nitrogen accumulation region, and an interface of the oxide layer and the oxidized nitride layer includes a second nitrogen accumulation region having a lower nitrogen concentration than the first nitrogen accumulation region, and wherein the at least one insulating layer of the blocking insulating layer has a higher dielectric constant than a highest dielectric constant of at least a major portion of the dielectric layer.