IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,641,775
Granted Patent B2
US 12,641,775 · App. 18/493,196 · Granted May 26, 2026

Semiconductor memory device

Inventors: Jun-Bum Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Dongsik Kong (Suwon-si, KR); Jihye Kwon (Suwon-si, KR); Junsoo Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Jae Hyun Choi (Suwon-si, KR); Hyun Seung Choi (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H10B12/34H10B12/053H10B12/315H10B12/482
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,641,775
App. No.
18/493,196
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Active regions defined by device isolation layer are provided on a substrate. A word line crossing the active regions and a gate dielectric layer between the word line and the active regions are provided. A capping insulating pattern covering an upper surface of the word line and a bit line on the word line are provided. The word line may include a first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern on the first conductive pattern. The first conductive pattern may include a first metal element. The second conductive pattern may include the first metal element, a work function adjustment element, and a diffusion barrier element. An atomic radius of the diffusion barrier element may be smaller than an atomic radius of the first metal element.

Claims (43)

1 . A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

active regions on a substrate, the active regions defined by a device isolation layer;

a word line crossing the active regions;

a gate dielectric layer between the word line and the active regions;

a capping insulating pattern at least partially covering an upper surface of the word line; and

a bit line on the word line, wherein

the word line includes a first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern on the first conductive pattern,

the first conductive pattern includes a first metal element,

the second conductive pattern includes the first metal element, a work function adjustment element, and a diffusion barrier element, and

an atomic radius of the diffusion barrier element is smaller than an atomic radius of the first metal element.

2 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern further includes nitrogen.

3 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 2 , wherein the atomic radius of the diffusion barrier element is larger than an atomic radius of nitrogen.

4 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein the diffusion barrier element is silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), aluminum (Al), or vanadium (V).

5 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein a grain size of the second conductive pattern is smaller than a grain size of the first conductive pattern.

6 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein the work function adjustment element is lanthanum (La), strontium (Sr), antimony (Sb), yttrium (Y), aluminum (Al), tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), iridium (Ir), zirconium (Zr), or magnesium (Mg).

7 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third conductive pattern on the second conductive pattern, wherein

the second conductive pattern covers lower and side surfaces of the third conductive pattern.

8 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 7 , wherein the third conductive pattern includes the first metal element, the work function adjustment element, and nitrogen.

9 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 8 , wherein a concentration of the work function adjustment element in the third conductive pattern decreases from an upper portion to a lower portion.

10 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 8 , wherein a concentration of the work function adjustment element in the second conductive pattern is lower than a concentration of the work function adjustment element in the third conductive pattern.

11 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein a sidewall of the second conductive pattern contacts the gate dielectric layer.

12 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the diffusion barrier element in the second conductive pattern is about 5 at % to about 30 at %.

13 . A semiconductor memory device, comprising: active regions on a substrate, the active regions defined by a device isolation layer; a word line crossing the active regions; a gate dielectric layer between the word line and the active regions; a capping insulating pattern at least partially covering an upper surface of the word line; and a bit line on the word line, wherein the word line includes a first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern on the first conductive pattern, the first conductive pattern includes a first metal element, the second conductive pattern includes the first metal element, a work function adjustment element, and a diffusion barrier element, and a grain size of the second conductive pattern is smaller than a grain size of the first conductive pattern.

14 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 13 , wherein the first conductive pattern includes nitrogen, the second conductive pattern includes nitrogen, and the diffusion barrier element has an atomic radius larger than an atomic radius of nitrogen.

15 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 13 , further comprising:

a third conductive pattern on the second conductive pattern, wherein

the second conductive pattern covers lower and side surfaces of the third conductive pattern.

16 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 15 , wherein the third conductive pattern includes the first metal element, the work function adjustment element, and nitrogen.

17 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 16 , wherein a concentration of the work function adjustment element in the third conductive pattern decreases from an upper portion to a lower portion.

18 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 17 , wherein a concentration of the work function adjustment element in the second conductive pattern is lower than a concentration of the work function adjustment element in the third conductive pattern.

19 . A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

active regions on a substrate, the active regions defined by a device isolation layer and including a first impurity region and a second impurity region;

word lines extending on the active regions and extending in a first direction;

capping insulating patterns at least partially covering upper surfaces of each of the word lines;

bit lines on the word lines and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction;

contact plugs between the bit lines and connected to the second impurity region; and

data storage units on the contact plugs, wherein

each of the word lines includes a first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern on the first conductive pattern,

the first conductive pattern includes a first metal element,

the second conductive pattern includes the first metal element, a work function adjustment element, and a diffusion barrier element, and

an atomic radius of the diffusion barrier element is smaller than an atomic radius of the first metal element.

20 . The semiconductor memory device of claim 19 , wherein a grain size of the second conductive pattern is smaller than a grain size of the first conductive pattern.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: LEE, JUN-BUM; KONG, DONGSIK; KWON, JIHYE; KIM, JUNSOO; CHOI, JAE HYUN; CHOI, HYUN SEUNG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065541/0785 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2023-0046722 · Apr 10, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240341083A1 · Oct 10, 2024
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