Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.

Wenyu Hua

Zhiliang Xia

Fandong Liu

Zhong Zhang

Jia He

Zongliang Huo

Qiang Xu

Yaohua Yang

Peizhen Hong

Wei Liu

Hongbin Zhu

Linchun Wu

Ziqun Hua

Bo Huang

Yue Qiang Pu

Ning Jiang

Linchen Wu

Simon Shi-Ning Yang

In certain aspects, a three-dimensional (3D) memory device includes a first semiconductor structure, a second semiconductor structure, and a bonding interface between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a peripheral circuit. The second semiconductor structure includes an array of memory cells and a plurality of bit lines coupled to the memory cells and each extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the memory cells includes a vertical transistor extending in a first direction, and a storage unit coupled to the vertical transistor. A respective one of the bit lines and a respective storage unit are coupled to opposite ends of each one of the memory cells in the first direction. Two adjacent vertical transistors of the vertical transistors in the second direction are mirror-symmetric to one another. The array of memory cells is coupled to the peripheral circuit across the bonding interface.

Memory devices having vertical transistors and methods for forming the same

A memory device includes a substrate, a stack over the substrate, and a gate line slit extending along a first direction and dividing the stack into two portions. The stack includes a connection portion that connects the two portions of the stack. The connection portion includes at least two sub-connection portions along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The gate line slit includes at least two portions along the first direction. Each sub-connection portion is between adjacent two portions of the gate line slit.

Word line structure of three-dimensional memory device

In certain aspects, a three-dimensional (3D) memory device includes a first semiconductor structure, a second semiconductor structure, and a first bonding interface between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a peripheral circuit. The second semiconductor structure includes an array of memory cells and a plurality of bit lines coupled to the memory cells and each extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the memory cells includes a vertical transistor extending in a first direction, and a storage unit coupled to the vertical transistor. A respective one of the bit lines and a respective storage unit are coupled to opposite ends of each one of the memory cells in the first direction. The array of memory cells is coupled to the peripheral circuit across the first bonding interface.

In certain aspects, a memory device includes a semiconductor layer, a peripheral circuit including a peripheral transistor in contact with the semiconductor layer, an array of memory cells disposed beside the semiconductor layer and the peripheral circuit, and bit lines coupled to the memory cells. Each of the memory cells includes a vertical transistor extending in a first direction, and a storage unit coupled to the vertical transistor. Each of the bit lines extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A respective one of the bit lines and a respective storage unit are coupled to opposite ends of each one of the memory cells in the first direction.

Embodiments of staircase structures of a three-dimensional memory device and fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a first and a second film stacks, wherein the first film stack is disposed over the second film stack and has Mnumber of layers. The second film stack has Mnumber of layers. Mand Mare whole numbers. The semiconductor structure also includes an upper staircase structure and a lower staircase structure, wherein the upper staircase structure is formed in the first film stack and the lower staircase structure is formed in the second film stack. The upper and lower staircase structures are next to each other with an offset.

Staircase structure with multiple divisions for three-dimensional memory

The present disclosure provides a method for forming a three-dimensional memory device. The method can comprise forming a film stack with a plurality of dielectric layer pairs on a substrate, forming a channel structure region in the film stack including a plurality of channel structures, and forming a first staircase structure in a first staircase region and a second staircase structure in a second staircase region. Each of the first staircase structure and the second staircase structure can include a plurality of division block structures arranged along a first direction. A first vertical offset defines a boundary between adjacent division block structures. Each division block structure includes a plurality of staircases arranged along a second direction that is different from the first direction. Each staircase includes a plurality of steps arranged along the first direction.

Three-dimensional memory devices and fabricating methods thereof

Methods and structures of a three-dimensional memory device are disclosed. In an example, the memory device comprises a substrate, a stack structure on the substrate, and at least one gate line slit extending along a first direction substantially parallel to a top surface of the substrate, and dividing the stack structure into at least two portions. The stack structure includes at least one connection portion that divides the at least one gate line slit, and conductively connects the at least two portions.

Embodiments of staircase structures of a three-dimensional memory device and fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a first and a second film stacks, wherein the first film stack is disposed over the second film stack and has Mnumber of layers. The second film stack has Mnumber of layers. Mand Mare whole numbers. The semiconductor structure also includes a first and a second staircase structures, wherein the first staircase structure is formed in the first film stack and the second staircase structure is formed in the second film stack. The first and second staircase structures are next to each other with an offset.

Three-dimensional (3D) memory devices and methods for forming the 3D memory devices are provided. For example, a method for forming a 3D memory device is provided. A dielectric stack including interleaved sacrificial layers and dielectric layers is formed on a substrate. A staircase structure is formed on at least one side of the dielectric stack. Dummy channel holes and dummy source holes extending vertically through the staircase structure are formed. A subset of the dummy channel holes is surrounded by the dummy source holes. A dummy channel structure is formed in each dummy channel hole, and interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers are formed in the staircase structure by replacing, through the dummy source holes, the sacrificial layers in the staircase structure with the conductive layers. A spacer is formed along a sidewall of each dummy source hole to cover the conductive layers in the staircase structure, and a contact is formed within the spacer in each dummy source hole.

Three-dimensional memory device and method for forming the same

Methods and structures of a three-dimensional memory device are disclosed. In an example, the method comprises: providing a substrate; forming an alternating stack over the substrate, the alternating stack comprising a plurality of tiers of sacrificial layer/insulating layer pairs extending along a first direction substantially parallel to a top surface of the substrate; forming a plurality of tiers of word lines extending along the first direction based on the alternating stack; forming at least one connection portion conductively connecting two or more of the word lines of the plurality of tiers of word lines; and forming at least one metal contact via conductively shared by connected word lines, the at least one metal contact via being connected to at least one metal interconnect.

Embodiments of 3D memory devices with a dielectric etch stop layer and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a method for forming a 3D memory device is disclosed. The method includes forming a dielectric etch stop layer. The dielectric etch stop is disposed on a substrate. The method also includes forming a dielectric stack on the dielectric etch stop layer. The dielectric stack includes a plurality of interleaved dielectric layers and sacrificial layers. The method further includes forming an opening extending vertically through the dielectric stack and extending the opening through the dielectric etch stop layer. In addition, the method includes forming a selective epitaxial growth (SEG) plug at a lower portion of the opening. The SEG plug is disposed on the substrate. Moreover, the method includes forming a channel structure above and in contact with the SEG plug in the opening. The method further includes forming a memory stack comprising a plurality of interleaved dielectric layers and conductor layers by replacing the sacrificial layers in the dielectric stack with the conductor layers.

Methods for reducing defects in semiconductor plug in three-dimensional memory device

Embodiments of a three-dimensional (3D) memory device are provided. A method for forming a 3D memory device is disclosed. A dielectric stack including interleaved sacrificial layers and dielectric layers is formed over a substrate. Channel holes and contact holes are formed through the dielectric stack. The contact holes extend vertically into the substrate and are each surrounded by channel holes of nominally equal lateral distances to the respective contact hole in a plan view. A channel structure is formed in each of the channel holes. A memory stack having interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers is formed by replacing, through the contact holes, the sacrificial layers in the dielectric stack with the conductive layers. A spacer is formed along a sidewall of each of the contact holes to cover the conductive layers of the memory stack. A contact is formed over the spacer in each of the contact holes. The contact is electrically connected to a common source of the channel structures.

Embodiments of 3D memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a substrate and a memory stack including interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers above the substrate. The 3D memory device also includes a slit structure extending vertically through the memory stack and extending laterally along a serpentine path to separate the memory stack into a first area and a second area. The 3D memory device further includes first channel structures each extending vertically through the first area of the memory stack and including a drain at its upper end, and second channel structures each extending vertically through the second area of the memory stack and including a source at its upper end. The 3D memory device further includes semiconductor connections disposed vertically between the substrate and the memory stack. Each semiconductor connection crosses the slit structure in a plan view to electrically connect a respective pair of first and second channel structures.

Three-dimensional memory devices

The present disclosure provides a three-dimensional (3D) memory device and a method for forming the same. The 3D memory device can comprise a channel structure region including a plurality of channel structures; a first staircase structure in a first staircase region including a plurality of division block structures arranged along a first direction on a first side of the channel structure, and a second staircase structure in a second staircase region including a plurality of division block structures arranged along the first direction on a second side of the channel structure. A first vertical offset defines a boundary between adjacent division block structures. Each division block structure includes a plurality of staircases arranged along a second direction that is different from the first direction. Each staircase includes a plurality of steps arranged along the first direction.

Embodiments of methods for forming a staircase structure of a three-dimensional (3D) memory device are disclosed. In an example, a first plurality of stairs of the staircase structure are formed based on a first photoresist mask. Each of the first plurality of stairs includes a number of divisions at different depths. After forming the first plurality of stairs, a second plurality of stairs of the staircase structure are formed based on a second photoresist mask. Each of the second plurality of stairs includes the number of divisions. The staircase structure tilts downward and away from a memory array structure of the 3D memory device from the first plurality of stairs to the second plurality of stairs.

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Wuhan, China

Wenyu Hua