A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers comprising laterally-spaced memory-block regions having horizontally-elongated trenches there-between. Two of the first tiers have different vertical thicknesses relative one another. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Through the horizontally-elongated trenches, first conductive material is formed in void space in the two first tiers. The first conductive material fills the first tier of the two first tiers that has a smaller of the different vertical thicknesses in individual of the memory-block regions. The first conductive material less-than-fills the first tier of the two first tiers that has a larger of the different vertical thicknesses in the individual memory-block regions. Through the horizontally-elongated trenches, the first conductive material is isotropically etched from the first tier having the larger vertical thickness in the individual memory-block regions to leave the first conductive material in the first tier having the smaller vertical thickness in the individual memory-block regions. After the isotropically etching of the first conductive material and through the horizontally-elongated trenches, second conductive material is formed in the first tier having the larger vertical thickness in the individual memory-block regions. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

Microelectronic devices include a tiered stack having vertically alternating insulative and conductive structures. A first series of stadiums is defined in the tiered stack within a first block of a dual-block structure. A second series of stadiums is defined in the tiered stack within a second block of the dual-block structure. The first and second series of stadiums are substantially symmetrically structured about a trench at a center of the dual-block structure. The trench extends a width of the first and second series of stadiums. The stadiums of the first and second series of stadiums have opposing staircase structures comprising steps at ends of the conductive structures of the tiered stack. Conductive source/drain contact structures are in the stack and extend substantially vertically from a source/drain region at a floor of the trench. Additional microelectronic devices are also disclosed, as are methods of fabrication and electronic systems.

Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a vertical stack of alternating first and second levels. A panel extends through the stack. The first levels have proximal regions adjacent the panel, and have distal regions further from the panel than the proximal regions. The distal regions include conductive structures. The conductive structures have a first thickness. The proximal regions include insulative structures. The insulative structures have a second thickness at least about as large as the first thickness. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming holes passing through a stacked structure, surrounding channel structures, and replacing some of the materials of the stacked structure through the holes.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming holes passing through a stacked structure, surrounding channel structures, and replacing some of the materials of the stacked structure through the holes.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated memory chip comprising a memory array with a strap-cell architecture that reduces the number of distinct strap-cell types and that reduces strap-line density. In some embodiments, the memory array is limited to three distinct types of strap cells: a source line/erase gate (SLEG) strap cell; a control gate/word line (CGWL) strap cell; and a word-line strap cell. The small number of distinct strap-cell types simplifies design of the memory array and further simplifies design of a corresponding interconnect structure. Further, in some embodiments, the three distinct strap-cell types electrically couple word lines, erase gates, and control gates to corresponding strap lines in different metallization layers of an interconnect structure. By spreading the strap lines amongst different metallization layers, strap-line density is reduced.

A semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, the method includes forming a first stack structure penetrated by first channel structures, forming electrode patterns surrounding second channel structures and separated from each other by first slits and second slits, the second channel structures coupled to the first channel structures, and the second slits comprising a different width from the first slits, filling each of the first slits and the second slits with an insulating material to cover sidewalk of the electrode patterns, and forming third slits passing through the insulating material in each of the second slits and extending to pass through the first stack structure.

Provided herein may be a memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The memory device may include a plurality of memory blocks formed on a source line, the plurality of memory blocks separated by a slit, a source contact formed in the slit, a plurality of normal bit lines arranged, in parallel, over the memory blocks, the plurality of normal bit lines being spaced apart in a first direction and extending in a second direction, a plurality of dummy groups disposed between the plurality of normal bit lines, each of the plurality of dummy groups including dummy bit lines, a first dummy pad extending in the first direction and contacting end portions of the dummy groups, a first upper contact formed on the first dummy pad, and a lower contact formed between the dummy bit lines and the source contact.

Provided herein may be a memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The memory device may include a plurality of memory blocks formed on a source line, the plurality of memory blocks separated by a slit, a source contact formed in the slit, a plurality of normal bit lines arranged, in parallel, over the memory blocks, the plurality of normal bit lines being spaced apart in a first direction and extending in a second direction, a plurality of dummy groups disposed between the plurality of normal bit lines, each of the plurality of dummy groups including dummy bit lines, a first dummy pad extending in the first direction and contacting end portions of the dummy groups, a first upper contact formed on the first dummy pad, and a lower contact formed between the dummy bit lines and the source contact.

A semiconductor device includes a lower structure, stack structure including gate electrodes stacked and spaced apart from each other on a first region of the lower structure and extending in a staircase shape on a second region of the lower structure, and interlayer insulating layers alternately stacked with the gate electrodes, channel structures penetrating through the gate electrodes on the first region, and isolation structures penetrating through the gate electrodes spaced apart from each other. Each channel structure a channel bent portion between first and second channel structures. Each isolation structure includes a first isolation bent portion between first and second isolation structures and a second isolation bent portion between second and third isolation structures. A width of an upper surface of the second isolation structure is narrower than a width of a lower surface of the third isolation structure.