In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a plurality of insulating layers provided on the substrate. The device further includes a plurality of electrode layers provided on the substrate alternately with the plurality of insulating layers and including metal atoms and impurity atoms different from the metal atoms, lattice spacing between the metal atoms in the electrode layers being greater than lattice spacing between the metal atoms in an elemental substance of the metal atoms.

A semiconductor memory device including: a common source line; a substrate on the common source line; a plurality of gate electrodes arranged on the substrate and spaced apart from each other in a first direction perpendicular to a top surface of the common source line; a plurality of insulation films arranged among the plurality of gate electrodes; a plurality of channel structures penetrating through the plurality of gate electrodes and the plurality of insulation films in the first direction; and a plurality of residual sacrificial films arranged on the substrate and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, wherein the plurality of gate electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the plurality of residual sacrificial films.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes processing a first substrate including a first align mark and a first structure, processing a second substrate including a second align mark and a second structure, orientating the first substrate and the second substrate such that the first structure and the second structure face each other, and controlling alignment between the first structure and the second structure by using the first align mark and the second align mark to couple the first structure with the second structure.

A three-dimensional memory device includes a vertical repetition of multiple instances of a unit layer stack. The unit layer stack includes, in order, an airgap-containing insulating layer, a first interfacial dielectric capping layer, a metal layer, and a second interfacial dielectric capping layer. Memory stack structures extend through the vertical repetition. Each of the memory stack structures includes a vertical semiconductor channel and a vertical stack of memory elements located at levels of the metal layers.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first conductive layer, a first semiconductor body, a second semiconductor body, a first memory layer, and a second memory layer. The first conductive layer includes first to fourth extension regions, and a first connection region. The first extension region extends in a first direction. The second extension region extends in the first direction and is arranged with the first extension region in the first direction. The third extension region extends in the first direction and is arranged with the first extension region in a second direction crossing the first direction. The fourth extension region extends in the first direction, is arranged with the third extension region in the first direction, and is arranged with the second extension region in the second direction.

A non-volatile memory device and its manufacturing method are provided. The non-volatile memory device includes a substrate and a plurality of first floating gates and a plurality of second floating gates formed on the substrate. The substrate includes a center region and two border regions located on opposite sides of the center region. The center region and two border regions are located in an array region. The first floating gates are located in the center region, and the second floating gates are located in one of the border regions. Each of the first floating gates has a first width, and each of the second floating gates has a second width less than the first width. There is a first spacing between the first floating gates, and there is a second spacing which is greater than the first spacing between the second floating gates.

Methods of forming an oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate are provided. The method includes forming a first oxide containing portion of the oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate at a first growth rate by exposing the substrate to a first gas mixture having a first oxygen percentage at a first temperature. A second oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a second growth rate by exposing the substrate to a second gas mixture having a second oxygen percentage at a second temperature. A third oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a third growth rate by exposing the substrate to a third gas mixture having a third oxygen percentage at a third temperature. The first growth rate is slower than each subsequent growth rate and each growth rate subsequent to the second growth rate is within 50% of each other.

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.

In an example of the present disclosure, 3D memory device includes a memory array structure and a staircase structure dividing the memory array structure into a first memory array structure and a second memory array structure along a lateral direction. The staircase structure includes a plurality of stairs, and a bridge structure in contact with the first memory array structure and the second memory array structure. A stair of the plurality of stairs includes a conductor portion on a top surface of the stair and electrically connected to the bridge structure, and a dielectric portion at a same level and in contact with the conductor portion. The stair is electrically connected to at least one of the first memory array structure and the second memory array structure. The conductor portion includes a portion overlapping with an immediately-upper stair and in contact with the dielectric portion and the bridge structure.