Micron Technology Incorporated

Michael Mutch

Manuj Nahar

Ashonita A Chavan

Sameer Chhajed

Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy

Wayne I Kinney

Kamal M Karda

Vassil N Antonov

Beth R Cook

Hung-Wei Liu

Jeffery B Hull

Lance Williamson

Kamal Kumar Muthukrishnan

Darwin Franseda Fan

Sanket S Kelkar

Adriel Jebin Jacob Jebaraj

Junting Liu-Norrod

A transistor comprises a top source/drain region, a bottom source/drain region, a channel region vertically between the top and bottom source/drain regions, and a gate operatively laterally-adjacent the channel region. The channel region is crystalline and comprises a plurality of vertically-elongated crystal grains that individually are directly against both of the top source/drain region and the bottom source/drain region. Other embodiments, including methods, are disclosed.

Vertical transistors having at least 50% grain boundaries offset between top and bottom source/drain regions and the channel region that is vertically therebetween

A method includes forming a semiconductor structure. The structure includes a first material, a blocking material, a second material in an amorphous form, and a third material in an amorphous form. The blocking material is disposed between the first material and the second material. At least the second material and the third material each comprise silicon and/or germanium. The structure is exposed to a temperature above a crystallization temperature of the third material and below a crystallization temperature of the second material. Semiconductor structures, memory devices, and systems are also disclosed.

Devices comprising crystalline materials

A memory cell comprises a capacitor comprising a first capacitor electrode having laterally-spaced walls, a second capacitor electrode comprising a portion above the first capacitor electrode, and capacitor insulator material between the second capacitor electrode and the first capacitor electrode. The capacitor comprises an intrinsic current leakage path from one of the first and second capacitor electrodes to the other through the capacitor insulator material. A parallel current leakage path is between the second capacitor electrode and the first capacitor electrode. The parallel current leakage path is circuit-parallel with the intrinsic current leakage path, of lower total resistance than the intrinsic current leakage path, and comprises leaker material that is everywhere laterally-outward of laterally-innermost surfaces of the laterally-spaced walls of the first capacitor electrode. Other embodiments, including methods, are disclosed.

Memory cells and methods of forming a capacitor including current leakage paths having different total resistances

A method includes forming a first amorphous material, forming a second amorphous material over and in contact with the first material, removing a portion of the second material and the first material to form pillars, and exposing the materials to a temperature between a crystallization temperature of the first material and a crystallization temperature of the second material. The first material and the second material each comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium. The second material exhibits a crystallization temperature different than a crystallization temperature of the first material. Semiconductor structures, memory devices, and systems are also disclosed.

Electronic devices comprising crystalline materials and related memory devices and systems

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first material over a base material by vapor phase epitaxy. The first material has a crystalline portion and an amorphous portion. The amorphous portion of the first material is removed by abrasive planarization. At least a second material is formed by vapor phase epitaxy over the crystalline portion of first material. The second material has a crystalline portion and an amorphous portion. The amorphous portion of the second material is removed by abrasive planarization. A semiconductor structure formed by such a method includes the substrate, the first material, the second material, and optionally, an oxide material between the first material and the second material. The substrate, the first material, and the second material define a continuous crystalline structure. Semiconductor structures, memory devices, and systems are also disclosed.

Semiconductor devices comprising continuous crystalline structures, and related memory devices and systems

A transistor comprises a top source/drain region, a bottom source/drain region, and a channel region vertically between the top and bottom source/drain regions. A gate is operatively laterally-adjacent the channel region. The top source/drain region, the bottom source/drain region, and the channel region respectively have crystal grains and grain boundaries between immediately-adjacent of the crystal grains. At least one of the bottom source/drain region and the channel region has an internal interface there-within between the crystal grains that are above the internal interface and the crystal grains that are below the internal interface. At least some of the crystal grains that are immediately-above the internal interface physically contact at least some of the crystal grains that are immediately-below the internal interface. All of the grain boundaries that are between immediately-adjacent of the physically-contacting crystal grains that are immediately-above and that are immediately-below the interface align relative one another. The internal interface comprises at least one of (a) and (b), where (a): conductivity-modifying dopant concentration immediately-above the internal interface is lower than immediately-below the internal interface and (b): a laterally-discontinuous insulative oxide. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.

Transistor and methods of forming transistors

Some embodiments include a capacitor having a container-shaped bottom portion. The bottom portion has a first region over a second region. The first region is thinner than the second region. The first region is a leaker region and the second region is a bottom electrode region. The bottom portion has an interior surface that extends along the first and second regions. An insulative material extends into the container shape. The insulative material lines the interior surface of the container shape. A conductive plug extends into the container shape and is adjacent the insulative material. A conductive structure extends across the conductive plug, the insulative material and the first region of the bottom portion. The conductive structure directly contacts the insulative material and the first region of the bottom portion, and is electrically coupled with the conductive plug. Some embodiments include methods of forming assemblies.

Methods of incorporating leaker devices into capacitor configurations to reduce cell disturb, and capacitor configurations incorporating leaker devices

Devices comprising crystalline materials and related systems

Vertical transistors with channel region having vertically elongated crystal grains that individually are directly against both of the top and bottom source/drain regions

Methods of forming semiconductor structures

Some embodiments include a method of forming crystalline semiconductor material. A template is provided to have a polycrystalline region along a surface. Semiconductor material is deposited along the surface under conditions which grow crystalline semiconductor structures from grains of the polycrystalline region. The deposition is conducted at a temperature of less than or equal to 500&#xb0; C. Some embodiments include a method of forming a transistor. A template is provided to have a polycrystalline region along a surface. Semiconductor material is deposited along the surface under conditions which grow crystalline semiconductor structures from grains of the polycrystalline region. The semiconductor material includes germanium. The crystalline semiconductor structures are doped to form a configuration having a first portion over a second portion. Insulative material is formed adjacent the second portion. A transistor gate is formed along the insulative material.

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Meridian, ID, United States of America

Michael Mutch