A semiconductor device includes a substrate having cell array and extension regions, a gate electrode structure having gate electrodes stacked in a first direction, a channel through the gate electrode structure on the cell array region, a first division pattern extending in the second direction on the cell array and extension regions, the first division pattern being at opposite sides of the gate electrode structure in a third direction, an insulation pattern structure partially through the gate electrode structure on the extension region, a through via through the insulation pattern structure, and a support layer on the gate electrode structure and extending on the cell array and extension regions, the support layer contacting an upper sidewall of the first division pattern, and the support layer not contacting an upper surface of a portion of the first division pattern on the extension region adjacent to the insulation pattern structure.

Three-dimensional (3D) memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In certain aspects, a 3D memory device includes a first semiconductor assembly, a second semiconductor assembly, and an inter-assembly bonding layer between the first semiconductor assembly and the second semiconductor assembly. The first semiconductor assembly includes a first array structure and a first periphery structure. The first array structure includes a first memory stack having a plurality of interleaved stack conductive layers and stack dielectric layers. The first periphery structure includes a plurality of first peripheral circuits electrically connected to the first memory stack. The second semiconductor assembly includes a second array structure and a second periphery structure. The second array structure includes a second memory stack having a plurality of interleaved stack conductive layers and stack dielectric layers. The second periphery structure includes a plurality of second peripheral circuits electrically connected to the second memory stack.

An integrated circuit device according to the inventive concept includes: a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a connection region; a gate stack including a plurality of gate electrodes and a plurality of insulating layers extending on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate in a horizontal direction and alternately stacked thereon in a vertical direction, the gate stack having a stair structure in the connection region; and a plurality of contact plugs in the connection region, wherein, in a portion of the connection region, a first length, in the horizontal direction, of a first gate electrode that is located in the lowest layer among the plurality of gate electrodes is less than a second length, in the horizontal direction, of a second gate electrode that is located above the first gate electrode.

Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a floating gate disposed on a substrate; a memory gate disposed on the floating gate; a first spacer disposed sidewalls of the floating gate and the memory gate, and an upper surface of the substrate; a second spacer disposed on the first spacer; a select high-k film disposed on a first portion of a sidewall of the first spacer between the substrate and the second spacer; and a select gate disposed on a second portion of the sidewall of the first spacer between the substrate and the second spacer. A width of a portion of the first spacer is reduced as a distance to the substrate decreases, and the portion of the first spacer is disposed between the substrate and the second spacer.

A 3D semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a stack structure comprising interlayer dielectric layers and gate electrodes alternately and repeatedly stacked on the substrate, vertical channel structures penetrating the stack structure, a separation structure spaced apart from the vertical channel structures and filling a trench crossing the stack structure, the separation structure comprising a spacer covering an inner sidewall of the trench, and a first conductive contact filling an inner space of the trench surrounded by the spacer, an insulating layer covering the substrate and the stack structure, contact plugs penetrating the insulating layer so as to be connected to the gate electrodes of the stack structure, and a second conductive contact spaced apart from the stack structure and penetrating the insulating layer so as to be connected to a peripheral circuit transistor. A bottom surface of the first conductive contact is at a level lower than a bottom surface of the spacer.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, gate electrodes stacked and spaced apart from each other in a first direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate, channel structures penetrating the gate electrodes, extending in the first direction, and each including a channel layer, separation regions penetrating the gate electrodes, extending in the first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and spaced apart from each other in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and crack prevention layers disposed on at least a portion of the separation regions, wherein each of the separation regions includes a lower region and upper regions spaced apart from each other in the second direction on the lower region and protruding upwardly from the lower region, and wherein the crack prevention layers are in contact with upper surfaces of the upper regions.

A semiconductor memory device includes a stack of word lines and insulating patterns. Cell pillars extend vertically through the stack of word lines and insulating patterns with memory cells being formed at the junctions of the cell pillars and the word lines. A ratio of the thickness of the word lines to the thickness of immediately neighboring insulating patterns is different at different locations along one or more of the cell pillars. Related methods of manufacturing and systems are also disclosed.

Some embodiments include a memory device and methods of forming the memory device. One such memory device includes a first group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the first group being formed in a cavity of a first control gate located in one device level of the memory device. The memory device also includes a second group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the second group being formed in a cavity of a second control gate located in another device level of the memory device. Additional apparatus and methods are described.

Some embodiments include a memory device and methods of forming the memory device. One such memory device includes a first group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the first group being formed in a cavity of a first control gate located in one device level of the memory device. The memory device also includes a second group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the second group being formed in a cavity of a second control gate located in another device level of the memory device. Additional apparatus and methods are described.

A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a memory cell array and a contact unit. The contact unit connects the memory cell array to a conductive layer and a contact. The contact unit includes a descending unit and an ascending unit. The descending unit includes a plurality of terrace parts descending in a first direction away from the memory cell array. The ascending unit is adjacent to the descending unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The ascending unit includes a plurality of terrace parts ascending in the first direction. The contact arranged in the terrace part of the descending unit and the contact arranged in the terrace part of the ascending unit are arranged in the second direction.