Abstract:
A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric material layer, a first metal interconnect structure embedded within the first dielectric material layer and including a first metallic material portion including a first metal, a second dielectric material layer located over the first dielectric material layer, and a second metal interconnect structure embedded within the second dielectric material layer and including an integrated line-and-via structure that includes a second metallic material portion including a second metal. A metal-semiconductor alloy portion including a first metal-semiconductor alloy of the first metal and a semiconductor material is located underneath the second metallic material portion, and contacts a top surface of the first metal interconnect structure.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, and memory opening fill structures located within the memory openings. Each of the electrically conductive layers includes a metallic fill material layer and a plurality of vertical tubular metallic liners laterally surrounding a respective one of the memory opening fill structures and located between the metallic fill material layer and a respective one of the memory opening fill structures. The tubular metallic liners may be formed by selective metal or metal oxide deposition, or by conversion of surface portions of the metallic fill material layers into metallic compound material portions by nitridation, oxidation, or incorporation of boron atoms.
Abstract:
A source-level sacrificial layer and an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers are formed over a substrate. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. Memory openings are formed through the alternating stack and the source-level sacrificial layer, and memory opening fill structures are formed. A source cavity is formed by removing the source-level sacrificial layer, and exposing an outer sidewall of each vertical semiconductor channel in the memory opening fill structures. A metal-containing layer is deposited on physically exposed surfaces of the vertical semiconductor channel and the vertical semiconductor channel is crystallized using metal-induced lateral crystallization. Alternatively or additionally, cylindrical metal-semiconductor alloy regions can be formed around the vertical semiconductor channels to reduce contact resistance. A source contact layer can be formed in the source cavity.
Abstract:
A semiconductor structure includes a memory die bonded to a support die. The memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate including a single crystalline substrate semiconductor material, and memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack and containing a respective memory film and a respective vertical semiconductor channel including a single crystalline channel semiconductor material. The support die contains a peripheral circuitry.
Abstract:
Three-dimensional memory devices include structures that induce a vertical tensile stress in vertical semiconductor channels to enhance charge carrier mobility. Vertical tensile stress may be induced by a laterally compressive stress applied by stressor pillar structure. The stressor pillar structures can include a stressor material such as a dielectric metal oxide material, silicon nitride, thermal silicon oxide or a semiconductor material having a greater lattice constant than that of the channel. Vertical tensile stress may be induced by a compressive stress applied by electrically conductive layers that laterally surround the vertical semiconductor channel, or by a stress memorization technique that captures a compressive stress from sacrificial material layers. Vertical tensile stress can be generated by a source-level pinning layer that prevents vertical expansion of the vertical semiconductor channel. Vertical tensile stress can be induced by using a layer stack including polysilicon and a silicon-germanium alloy for the vertical semiconductor channel.
Abstract:
Alternating stacks of insulating strips and sacrificial material strips are formed over a substrate. A laterally alternating sequence of pillar cavities and pillar structures can be formed within each of the line trenches. A phase change memory cell including a discrete metal portion, a phase change memory material portion, and a selector material portion is formed at each level of the sacrificial material strips at a periphery of each of the pillar cavities. Vertical bit lines are formed in the two-dimensional array of pillar cavities. Remaining portions of the sacrificial material strips are replaced with electrically conductive word line strips. Pathways for providing an isotropic etchant for the sacrificial material strips and a reactant for a conductive material of the electrically conductive word line strips may be provided by a backside trench, or by removing the pillar structures to provide backside openings.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes forming a stack of alternating layers comprising insulating layers and spacer material layers over a semiconductor substrate, forming a memory opening through the stack, forming an aluminum oxide layer having a horizontal portion at a bottom of the memory opening and a vertical portion at least over a sidewall of the memory opening, where the horizontal portion differs from the vertical portion by at least one of structure or composition, and selectively etching the horizontal portion selective to the vertical portion.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory openings extending through the alternating stack, and memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings and containing a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film. Each of the electrically conductive layers includes a tubular metallic liner in contact with a respective outer sidewall segment of a respective one of the memory opening fill structures, an electrically conductive barrier layer contacting the respective tubular metallic liner and two of the insulating layers, and a metallic fill material layer contacting the electrically conductive barrier layer, and not contacting the tubular metallic liner or any of the insulating layers. The memory opening fill structures are formed after performing a halogen outgassing anneal through the memory openings to reduce or eliminate the halogen outgassing damage in the layers of the memory film.
Abstract:
A memory opening is formed through an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers located over a substrate. Annular recesses are formed around the memory opening by laterally recessing the sacrificial material layers with respect to the insulating layers. Annular metal portions are formed over recessed sidewalls of the sacrificial material layers within each of the annular recesses by a selective deposition process. Annular backside blocking dielectrics are formed selectively on inner sidewalls of the annular metal portions employing a layer of a self-assembly material that covers surfaces of the insulating layers and inhibits deposition of a dielectric material thereupon. A memory stack structure is formed in the memory opening, and the sacrificial material layers are replaced with electrically conductive layers. The annular backside blocking dielectrics provide electrical isolation for the annular metal portions, which function as control gate electrodes.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional memory device can be formed by first forming an alternating stack of insulating layers and stack level spacer material layers over a substrate. The stack level spacer material layers can be formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, stack level electrically conductive layers. A bottommost insulating spacer layer is formed with recesses that form grooves that are laterally spaced apart. Drain select level electrically conductive layers are formed over protruding portions and within the grooves of the bottommost insulating spacer layer by anisotropic deposition and isotropic etch back of a conductive material. Additional insulating spacer layers may be formed by anisotropic deposition of an insulating material. Additional drain select level electrically conductive layers can be formed by anisotropic deposition and isotropic etch back of additional conductive material. Memory stack structures can be formed through the drain select level electrically conductive layers and through the alternating stack.