A method of making a monolithic three dimensional NAND string including forming a stack of alternating layers of insulating first material and sacrificial second material different from the first material over a major surface of the substrate, forming a front side opening in the stack, forming at least one charge storage region in the front side opening and forming a tunnel dielectric layer over the at least one charge storage region in front side opening. The method also includes forming a semiconductor channel over the tunnel dielectric layer in the front side opening, forming a back side opening in the stack and selectively removing at least portions of the second material layers to form back side recesses between adjacent first material layers. The method also includes forming electrically conductive clam shaped nucleation liner regions in the back side recesses and selectively forming ruthenium control gate electrodes through the back side opening in the respective electrically conductive clam shaped nucleation liner regions.