Three-dimensional memory device including molybdenum word lines and metal oxide spacers and method of making the same

Abstract

A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and word lines that are made of molybdenum layers located over a substrate, and memory stack structures extending through each layer in the alternating stack. Each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. Each memory film includes a vertical stack of discrete tubular dielectric metal oxide spacers in contact with a respective one of the molybdenum layers, a continuous silicon oxide blocking dielectric layer contacting an inner sidewall of each of the tubular dielectric metal oxide spacers, a vertical stack of charge storage material portions, and a tunneling dielectric layer contacting each of the charge storage material portions and the vertical semiconductor channel.