Patent ID: 8436417

Claim:
A semiconductor memory device, comprising; a semiconductor layer; a tunnel insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer and being at least one compound selected from a silicon oxide, a silicon oxynitride, a silicon nitride, an aluminum oxide, an aluminum oxynitride, and an aluminum nitride; a charge accumulating film formed on the tunnel insulating film and including a zirconium oxide cluster or a hafnium oxide cluster; a block insulating film formed on the charge accumulating film; and a gate electrode formed on the block insulating film, wherein the zirconium oxide cluster or the hafnium oxide cluster includes at least one element selected from Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and Hg.