Patent ID: 8076200

Claim:
A method comprising: forming a charge trapping dielectric structure of a device on a surface of a substrate such that forming the charge trapping dielectric structure includes: forming a first portion disposed above the surface of the substrate such that the first portion is a dielectric material disposed on and contacting a region of the device operable to conduct current, the first portion having a composition with a first band-gap value, the composition being a carbon compound or a metal oxide; forming a second portion disposed on and contacting the first portion by nitridation of a surface of the composition of the first portion such that the second portion consists essentially of a dielectric nitride of the composition, the second portion formed as a charge trap region having a composition to trap charge carriers, the composition of the second portion having a band-gap value less than the first band-gap value; and forming a third portion disposed on and contacting the second portion, the third portion having a second band-gap value, the second band-gap value being greater than the first band-gap value, the third portion being a dielectric; and forming a conductive layer on and contacting the charge trapping dielectric structure, the conductive layer conductively coupled to a structure on the substrate separate from the device.