A semiconductor memory device, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor memory device, includes a gate stack including interlayer insulating layers and word lines alternately stacked in a first direction, channel pillars passing through the gate stack and tapering toward the first direction, source select lines surrounding the channel pillars and extending to overlap the gate stack, and a source isolation insulating layer overlapping the gate stack between the source select lines and tapering toward a direction opposite to the first direction.

A semiconductor memory device, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor memory device, includes a gate stack including interlayer insulating layers and word lines alternately stacked in a first direction, channel pillars passing through the gate stack and tapering toward the first direction, source select lines surrounding the channel pillars and extending to overlap the gate stack, and a source isolation insulating layer overlapping the gate stack between the source select lines and tapering toward a direction opposite to the first direction.

A method used in forming a memory array and conductive through-array-vias (TAVs) comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. A mask is formed comprising horizontally-elongated trench openings and operative TAV openings above the stack. Etching is conducted of unmasked portions of the stack through the trench and operative TAV openings in the mask to form horizontally-elongated trench openings in the stack and to form operative TAV openings in the stack. Conductive material is formed in the operative TAV openings in the stack to form individual operative TAVs in individual of the operative TAV openings in the stack. A wordline-intervening structure is formed in individual of the trench openings in the stack.

A vertical memory device includes first horizontal gate electrodes disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from each other in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. Each of the first horizontal gate electrodes extends in a second direction that is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the substrate. A vertical channel extends through the first horizontal gate electrodes in the first direction. A charge storage structure is disposed between the vertical channel and each of the first horizontal gate electrodes. A first vertical gate electrode extends through the first horizontal gate electrodes in the first direction. The first vertical gate electrode is electrically insulated from the first horizontal gate electrodes. A first horizontal channel is disposed at a portion of each of the first horizontal gate electrodes adjacent to the first vertical gate electrode.

A vertical memory device includes first horizontal gate electrodes disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from each other in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. Each of the first horizontal gate electrodes extends in a second direction that is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the substrate. A vertical channel extends through the first horizontal gate electrodes in the first direction. A charge storage structure is disposed between the vertical channel and each of the first horizontal gate electrodes. A first vertical gate electrode extends through the first horizontal gate electrodes in the first direction. The first vertical gate electrode is electrically insulated from the first horizontal gate electrodes. A first horizontal channel is disposed at a portion of each of the first horizontal gate electrodes adjacent to the first vertical gate electrode.

A patterned backside stress compensation film having different stress in different sectors is formed on a backside of a substrate to reduce combination warpage of the substrate. The film can be formed by employing a radio frequency electrode assembly including plurality of conductive plates that are biased with different RF power and cause local variations in the plasma employed to deposit the backside film. Alternatively, the film may be deposited with uniform stress, and some of its sectors are irradiated with ultraviolet radiation to change the stress of these irradiated sectors. Yet alternatively, multiple backside deposition processes may be sequentially employed to deposit different backside films to provide a composite backside film having different stresses in different sectors.

A patterned backside stress compensation film having different stress in different sectors is formed on a backside of a substrate to reduce combination warpage of the substrate. The film can be formed by employing a radio frequency electrode assembly including plurality of conductive plates that are biased with different RF power and cause local variations in the plasma employed to deposit the backside film. Alternatively, the film may be deposited with uniform stress, and some of its sectors are irradiated with ultraviolet radiation to change the stress of these irradiated sectors. Yet alternatively, multiple backside deposition processes may be sequentially employed to deposit different backside films to provide a composite backside film having different stresses in different sectors.

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. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Channel-material strings extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Material of the first tiers is of different composition from material of the second tiers. Conducting material is formed in one of the first tiers. The conducting material comprises a seam in and longitudinally-along opposing sides of individual of the memory-block regions in the one first tier. The seam is penetrated with a fluid that forms intermediate material in the seam longitudinally-along the opposing sides of the individual memory-block regions in the one first tier and comprises a different composition from that of the conducting material. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

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. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Channel-material strings extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Material of the first tiers is of different composition from material of the second tiers. Conducting material is formed in one of the first tiers. The conducting material comprises a seam in and longitudinally-along opposing sides of individual of the memory-block regions in the one first tier. The seam is penetrated with a fluid that forms intermediate material in the seam longitudinally-along the opposing sides of the individual memory-block regions in the one first tier and comprises a different composition from that of the conducting material. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

A semiconductor storage device includes a substrate, a first wiring, a second wiring, a third wiring, a fourth wiring, a charge storage unit. The first wiring extends in a first direction along a surface of the substrate. The second wiring is aligned with the first wiring in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and extends in the first direction. The third wiring is in contact with the first wiring and the second wiring and includes a semiconductor. The fourth wiring is located between the first wiring and the second wiring, extends in a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction, and is aligned with the third wiring in at least the first direction. The charge storage unit is located between the third wiring and the fourth wiring.