Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices and methods for controlling a photoresist (PR) trimming rate in the formation of the 3D memory devices are disclosed. In an example, a method includes forming a dielectric stack over a substrate, measuring a first distance between the first trimming mark and the PR layer along a first direction, and trimming the PR layer along the first direction. The method also includes etching the dielectric stack using the trimmed PR layer as an etch mask to form a staircase, forming a second trimming mark using the first trimming mark as an etch mask, measuring a second distance between the second trimming mark and the trimmed PR layer, comparing the first distance with the second distance to determine a difference between an actual PR trimming rate and an estimated PR trimming rate, and adjusting PR trimming parameters based on the difference.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises providing a first substrate including a buffer layer and a base substrate, forming a stacked mold structure including a plurality of unit laminates on the buffer layer, each of the unit laminates including a first sacrificial layer, a first silicon layer, a second sacrificial layer, and a second silicon layer sequentially stacked in a vertical direction and replacing the stacked mold structure with a stacked memory structure through a replacement process, wherein the stacked memory structure includes a metal pattern which replaces the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer, and an insulating pattern which replaces the second silicon layer, the buffer layer includes silicon-germanium, and a germanium concentration of the buffer layer varies depending on the germanium concentration of the first sacrificial layer and the germanium concentration of the second sacrificial layer.

A process includes (a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a planar surface; (b) forming a plurality of thin-film layers above the planar surface of the semiconductor substrate, one on top of another, including among the thin-film layers first and second isolation layers, wherein a significantly greater concentration of a first dopant specie is provided in the first isolation layer than in the second isolation layer; (c) etching along a direction substantially orthogonal to the planar surface through the thin-films to create a trench having sidewalls that expose the thin-film layers; (d) depositing conformally a semiconductor material on the sidewalls of the trench; (e) annealing the first isolation layer at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined duration such that the first isolation layer act as a source of the first dopant specie which dopes a portion of the semiconductor material adjacent the first isolation layer; and (f)selectively etching the semiconductor material to remove the doped portion of the semiconductor material without removing the remainder of the semiconductor material.

A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a metal layer and a spacer adjacent to the metal layer. The spacer includes a composite-dielectric layer including a composite-dielectric material. A composition of the composite-dielectric material is a mixture of a composition of a first dielectric material and a composition of a second dielectric material different from the first dielectric material.

The present invention provides a semiconductor memory device including a substrate, a plurality of capacitors and a supporting layer disposed on the substrate, wherein each of the capacitors is connected with at least one of the adjacent capacitors through the supporting layer. Each of the capacitors includes first electrodes, a high-k dielectric layer and a second electrode, and the high-k dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrode. Due to the supporting layer directly contacts the high-k dielectric layer through a surface thereof, and the high-k dielectric layer completely covers the surface, the second electrode may be formed directly within openings with an enlarged dimension. Accordingly, the process difficulty of performing the deposition and etching processes within the openings may be reduced, and the capacitance of the capacitors is further increased.

The present invention provides a semiconductor memory device including a substrate, a plurality of capacitors and a supporting layer disposed on the substrate, wherein each of the capacitors is connected with at least one of the adjacent capacitors through the supporting layer. Each of the capacitors includes first electrodes, a high-k dielectric layer and a second electrode, and the high-k dielectric layer is disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrode. Due to the supporting layer directly contacts the high-k dielectric layer through a surface thereof, and the high-k dielectric layer completely covers the surface, the second electrode may be formed directly within openings with an enlarged dimension. Accordingly, the process difficulty of performing the deposition and etching processes within the openings may be reduced, and the capacitance of the capacitors is further increased.

A memory device includes a substrate, word line layers, insulating layers, and memory cells. The word line layers are stacked above the substrate. The insulating layers are stacked above the substrate respectively alternating with the word line layers. The memory cells are distributed along a stacking direction of the word line layers and the insulating layers perpendicularly to a major surface of the substrate. Each memory cell includes a source line electrode and a bit line electrode, a first oxide semiconductor layer, and a second oxide semiconductor layer. The first oxide semiconductor layer is peripherally surrounded by one of the word line layers, the source line electrode, and the bit line electrode. The second oxide semiconductor layer is disposed between the one of the word line layers and the first oxide semiconductor layer.

A 3D semiconductor device with a built-in-test-circuit (BIST), the device comprising: a first single-crystal substrate with a plurality of logic circuits disposed therein, wherein said first single-crystal substrate comprises a device area, wherein said plurality of logic circuits comprise at least a first interconnected array of processor logic, wherein said plurality of logic circuits comprise at least a second interconnected set of circuits comprising a first logic circuit, a second logic circuit, and a third logic circuit, wherein said second interconnected set of logic circuits further comprise switching circuits that support replacing said first logic circuit and/or said second logic circuit with said third logic circuit; and said built-in-test-circuit (BIST), wherein said first logic circuit is testable by said built-in-test-circuit (BIST), and wherein said second logic circuit is testable by said built-in-test-circuit (BIST).

A 3D semiconductor device with a built-in-test-circuit (BIST), the device comprising: a first single-crystal substrate with a plurality of logic circuits disposed therein, wherein said first single-crystal substrate comprises a device area, wherein said plurality of logic circuits comprise at least a first interconnected array of processor logic, wherein said plurality of logic circuits comprise at least a second interconnected set of circuits comprising a first logic circuit, a second logic circuit, and a third logic circuit, wherein said second interconnected set of logic circuits further comprise switching circuits that support replacing said first logic circuit and/or said second logic circuit with said third logic circuit; and said built-in-test-circuit (BIST), wherein said first logic circuit is testable by said built-in-test-circuit (BIST), and wherein said second logic circuit is testable by said built-in-test-circuit (BIST).

A semiconductor memory device includes a conducting layer and an insulating layer that are disposed above a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pillars that extend in a direction which crosses a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plate that is disposed between the plurality of pillars and extends in the same direction as the pillars. A surface of the plate, which faces the pillars, has convex portions and non-convex portions.