Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.

Xiaowang Dai

Zhenyu Lu

Qian Tao

Jun Chen

Jifeng Zhu

Yushi Hu

Li Hong Xiao

Lan Yao

Yu Huang

Si Ping Hu

Haohao Yang

Kun Bao

A Man Zheng

Ji Xia

Jin Wen Dong

Yongna Li

Lidong Song

Zhong Zhang

Yan Ni Li

Yu Ting Zhou

Simon Shi-Ning Yang

Steve Weiyi Yang

Feng Pan

Zhao Hui Tang

Mei Lan Guo

Qianbing Xu

Qinxiang Wei

Dan Liu

Sha Sha Liu

Jian Hua Sun

EnBo Wang

ZhiWu Tang

Zhaosong Li

Jialan He

Jin Lyu

A memory device includes an alternating layer stack including conductive/dielectric layer pairs stacked in a first direction, a first insulating layer on the alternating layer stack, a thickness of the first insulating layer being larger than a thickness of the dielectric layer, and a channel structure extending through the alternating layer stack and the first insulating layer along the first direction. The channel structure includes an epitaxial layer disposed at a first end of the channel structure away from the first insulating layer, a functional layer on the epitaxial layer and extending along the first direction, a channel layer covering a sidewall of the functional layer and in contact with the epitaxial layer, and a filling structure covering a sidewall of the channel layer. The memory device further includes a channel column structure at a second end of the channel structure near the first insulating layer and in contact with the channel layer, and a top selective gate structure over the first insulating layer and between neighboring channel column structures.

Three-dimensional memory devices and fabricating methods thereof

Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices and methods for controlling a photoresist (PR) trimming rate in the formation of the 3D memory devices are disclosed. In an example, a method includes forming a dielectric stack over a substrate, measuring a first distance between the first trimming mark and the PR layer along a first direction, and trimming the PR layer along the first direction. The method also includes etching the dielectric stack using the trimmed PR layer as an etch mask to form a staircase, forming a second trimming mark using the first trimming mark as an etch mask, measuring a second distance between the second trimming mark and the trimmed PR layer, comparing the first distance with the second distance to determine a difference between an actual PR trimming rate and an estimated PR trimming rate, and adjusting PR trimming parameters based on the difference.

Staircase etch control in forming three-dimensional memory device

A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a staircase structure disposed over a substrate. The staircase structure includes a plurality of layer stacks, where each layer stack is made of a first material layer over a portion of a second material layer. The staircase structure further includes a plurality of landing pads, where each landing pad is disposed over another portion of the second material layer of a respective layer stack.

Staircase structure for memory device

Various embodiments disclose a 3D memory device, including a substrate; a plurality of conductor layers disposed on the substrate; a plurality of NAND strings disposed on the substrate; and a plurality of slit structures disposed on the substrate. The plurality of NAND strings can be arranged perpendicular to the substrate and in a hexagonal lattice orientation including a plurality of hexagons, and each hexagon including three pairs of sides with a first pair perpendicular to a first direction and parallel to a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The plurality of slit structures can extend in the first direction.

Memory cell structure of a three-dimensional memory device

A method for forming a 3D memory device is disclosed. The method includes: forming an alternating dielectric stack on a substrate; forming a plurality of channel holes penetrating the alternating dielectric stack; forming a channel structure in each channel hole; forming a channel column structure on the channel structure in each channel hole; trimming an upper portion of each channel column structure to form a channel plug; and forming a top selective gate cut between neighboring channel plugs.

Embodiments of semiconductor structures including word line contact structures for three-dimensional memory devices and fabrication methods for forming word line contact structures are disclosed. The semiconductor structures include a staircase structure having a plurality of steps, and each step includes a conductive layer disposed over a dielectric layer. The semiconductor structures further include a barrier layer disposed over a portion of the conductive layer of each step. The semiconductor structures also include an etch-stop layer disposed on the barrier layer and an insulating layer disposed on the etch-stop layer. The semiconductor structures also include a plurality of conductive structures formed in the insulating layer and each conductive structure is formed on the conductive layer of each step.

Word line contact structure for three-dimensional memory devices and fabrication methods thereof

Embodiments of interconnect structures of a three-dimensional (3D) memory device and method for forming the interconnect structures are disclosed. In an example, a 3D NAND memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, an alternating layer stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric structure, which extends vertically through the alternating layer stack, on an isolation region of the substrate. Further, the alternating layer stack abuts a sidewall surface of the dielectric structure and the dielectric structure is formed of a dielectric material. The 3D memory device additionally includes one or more through array contacts that extend vertically through the dielectric structure and the isolation region, and one or more channel structures that extend vertically through the alternating layer stack.

Through array contact (TAC) for three-dimensional memory devices

Embodiments of semiconductor structures for wafer flatness control and methods for using and forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a model indicative of a flatness difference of a wafer between a first direction and a second direction is obtained. The flatness difference is associated with one of a plurality of fabrication stages of a plurality of semiconductor devices on a front side of the wafer. A compensation pattern is determined for reducing the flatness difference based on the model. At the one of the plurality of the fabrication stages, a compensation structure is formed on a backside opposite to the front side of the wafer based on the compensation pattern to reduce the flatness difference.

Wafer flatness control using backside compensation structure

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Hubei, China

Xiaowang Dai