Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Heung Jin Joo

Jin Woo Park

JaeHee Oh

Myung Ho Jung

Du Heon Song

He Jueng Lee

Min Sung Song

Kwan Yong Kim

Ji-Hyun Jeong

Sung-Ho Eun

Byoungjae Bae

Seongjun Seo

Myung Jin Kang

Hyun-Seok Na

Heejueng Lee

A three-dimensional semiconductor memory device may include a substrate including a cell array region, a peripheral circuit region, and a connection region between the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region. The memory device may include an electrode structure extending from the cell array region toward the connection region and comprising electrodes stacked on the substrate, a horizontal gate dielectric layer between the electrode structure and the substrate and including a first portion on the cell array region and a second portion on the connection region, the second portion thicker than the first portion in the vertical direction, first vertical channels on the cell array region and penetrating the electrode structure and the first portion of the horizontal gate dielectric layer, and second vertical channels on the connection region and penetrating the electrode structure and the second portion of the horizontal gate dielectric layer.

Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices

In some embodiments, 3-dimensional semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate extending horizontally in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction. A stacked memory cell array is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The memory device further includes a separation pattern including a plurality of separation lines extending in the first direction and arranged in the second direction, and dividing the stacked memory cell array into a plurality of memory cell structures extending in the first direction and arranged in the second direction. An upper insulating layer is formed above the plurality of memory cell structures and separation lines, and a passivation layer is formed above the upper insulating layer. The passivation layer includes a plurality of first regions having a first vertical thickness. A plurality of gap regions in the passivation layer are formed between the plurality of first regions. The plurality of first regions vertically overlap the plurality of memory cell structures, and the plurality of gap regions vertically overlap the plurality of separation lines.

Semiconductor device

A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate and a first insulating layer on the substrate. The first insulating layer includes a first opening therein. A lower electrode is provided in the first opening and protrudes from a surface of the first insulating layer outside the first opening. An electrode passivation pattern is provided on a sidewall of the lower electrode that protrudes from the surface of the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is provided on the first insulating layer and includes a second opening therein at least partially exposing the lower electrode. A variable resistance material layer extends into the second opening to contact the lower electrode. The electrode passivation layer electrically separates the sidewall of the lower electrode from the variable resistance material layer. The electrode passivation pattern is formed of a material having an etching selectivity to that of the second insulating layer. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.

Variable resistance memory devices having reduced reset current

Methods of forming a variable-resistance memory device include patterning an interlayer dielectric layer to define an opening therein that exposes a bottom electrode of a variable-resistance memory cell, on a memory cell region of a substrate (e.g., semiconductor substrate). These methods further include depositing a layer of variable-resistance material (e.g., phase-changeable material) onto the exposed bottom electrode in the opening and onto a first portion of the interlayer dielectric layer extending opposite a peripheral circuit region of the substrate. The layer of variable-resistance material and the first portion of the interlayer dielectric layer are then selectively etched in sequence to define a recess in the interlayer dielectric layer. The layer of variable-resistance material and the interlayer dielectric layer are then planarized to define a variable-resistance pattern within the opening.

Methods of forming variable-resistance memory devices and devices formed thereby

Provided are variable resistance memory devices and methods of forming the variable resistance memory devices. The methods can include forming an etch stop layer on an electrode, forming a molding layer on the etch stop layer, forming a recess region including a lower part having a first width and an upper part having a second width by recessing the etch stop layer and the molding layer, and forming a layer of variable resistance material in the recess region.

Variable resistance memory devices and methods of forming variable resistance memory devices

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Suwon-si, South Korea

Heung Jin Joo