Micron Technology Incorporated

Intel Corporation

Jie Li

Kunal Shrotri

Luan C Tran

Anish A Khandekar

David H Wells

Gordon A Haller

Minsoo Lee

James Mathew

Yangda Zhang

Hongpeng Yu

Chris M Carlson

Richard J Hill

Chet E Carter

Collin Howder

Changhan Kim

Hung-Wei Liu

Dimitrios Pavlopoulos

Cole Smith

Fei Wang

Jeffery B Hull

Zhixin Xu

Duo Mao

Ee Ee Eng

Dong Liang

John David Hopkins

Ramey M Abdelrahaman

Younghee Kim

Yu Yuwen

Some embodiments include a method of forming an assembly (e.g., a memory array). A first opening is formed through a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels contain silicon nitride, and the second levels contain silicon dioxide. Some of the silicon dioxide of the second levels is replaced with memory cell structures. The memory cell structures include charge-storage regions adjacent charge-blocking regions. Tunneling material is formed within the first opening, and channel material is formed adjacent the tunneling material. A second opening is formed through the stack. The second opening extends through remaining portions of the silicon dioxide, and through the silicon nitride. The remaining portions of the silicon dioxide are removed to form cavities. Conductive regions are formed within the cavities. The silicon nitride is removed to form voids between the conductive regions. Some embodiments include memory arrays.

Memory arrays, and methods of forming memory arrays

Some embodiments include device having a gate spaced from semiconductor channel material by a dielectric region, and having nitrogen-containing material directly against the semiconductor channel material and on an opposing side of the semiconductor channel material from the dielectric region. Some embodiments include a device having a gate spaced from semiconductor channel material by a dielectric region, and having nitrogen within at least some of the semiconductor channel material. Some embodiments include a NAND memory array which includes a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. Channel material extends vertically along the stack. Charge-storage material is between the channel material and the wordline levels. Dielectric material is between the channel material and the charge-storage material. Nitrogen is within the channel material. Some embodiments include methods of forming NAND memory arrays.

Methods of forming NAND memory arrays

Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a first opening extending through a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. A nitride structure is within the first opening and narrows the first opening to form a second opening. Detectable oxide is between the nitride structure and one or more of the conductive levels. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. A first opening extends through the vertically-stacked levels to the conductive material and has opposing sidewalls along a cross-section. Nitride liners are along the sidewalls of the first opening. Detectable oxide is between at least one of the nitride liners and one or more of the vertically-stacked conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated structures.

Integrated structures and methods of forming integrated structures

A transistor comprises channel material having first and second opposing sides. A gate is on the first side of the channel material and a gate insulator is between the gate and the channel material. A first insulating material has first and second opposing sides, with the first side being adjacent the second side of the channel material. A second insulating material of different composition from that of the first insulating material is adjacent the second side of the first insulating material. The second insulating material has at least one of (a), (b), and (c), where, (a): lower oxygen diffusivity than the first material, (b): net positive charge, and (c): at least two times greater shear strength than the first material. In some embodiments, an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises such transistors. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.

Transistors and arrays of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells

Methods of forming a channel region of a transistor and methods used in forming a memory array

NAND memory arrays, devices comprising semiconductor channel material and nitrogen, and methods of forming NAND memory arrays

A method of forming SiN, where 'x' is less than 4 and at least 3, comprises decomposing a Si-comprising precursor molecule into at least two decomposition species that are different from one another, at least one of the at least two different decomposition species comprising Si. An outer substrate surface is contacted with the at least two decomposition species. At least one of the decomposition species that comprises Si attaches to the outer substrate surface to comprise an attached species. The attached species is contacted with a N-comprising precursor that reacts with the attached species to form a reaction product comprising SiN, where 'x' is less than 4 and at least 3. Other embodiments are disclosed, including constructions made in accordance with method embodiments of the invention and constructions independent of method of manufacture.

Programmable charge storage transistor, an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells, methods of forming Si3Nx, methods of forming insulator material that is between a control gate and charge-storage material of a programmable charge-storage transistor, methods of forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells, a programmable charge-storage transistor manufactured in accordance with methods, and an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells man

Memory arrays

Methods of forming sin, methods of forming insulator material between a control gate and charge-storage material of a programmable charge-storage transistor, and methods of forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells and a programmable charge-storage transistor manufactured in accordance with methods

NAND memory arrays, and devices comprising semiconductor channel material and nitrogen

A 3D NAND storage device includes a plurality of layers containing doped semiconductor material interleaved with a plurality of layers of dielectric material. A first portion of the plurality of doped semiconductor material layers may be doped with a first dopant having a first dopant parameter. A second portion of the plurality of doped semiconductor material layers may be doped with a second dopant having a second dopant parameter. In embodiments, the first portion of the plurality of doped semiconductor layers may include a dopant at a concentration less than a defined threshold. In embodiments, the second portion of the plurality of doped semiconductor layers may include a dopant at a concentration less than the defined threshold. The differing dopant concentrations have been found to beneficially and advantageously affect the etch rate in the respective semiconductor layers when forming control gate recesses in the semiconductor layers.

Polysilicon doping controlled 3D NAND etching

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

Jie Li