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.

A semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cell arrays. The first array includes a first semiconductor portion, extending in a first direction, on which a first memory cell and a first select transistor are formed, a first word line connected to the first cell, a first select gate line connected to the first transistor, and a first bit line connected to the first semiconductor portion. The second array includes a second semiconductor portion, extending along the first direction, on which a second memory cell and a second select transistor are formed, a second word line connected to the second cell, a second select gate line connected to the second transistor, and a second bit line connected to the second semiconductor portion. The first and second word lines are electrically connected, but the first and second select gate lines are not electrically connected.

Embodiments of through array contact structures of a 3D memory device and fabricating method thereof are disclosed. The 3D NAND memory device includes an alternating layer stack disposed on a substrate. The alternating layer stack includes a first region including an alternating dielectric stack, and a second region including an alternating conductor/dielectric stack. The memory device further comprises a barrier structure extending vertically through the alternating layer stack to laterally separate the first region from the second region, and multiple through array contacts in the first region each extending vertically through the alternating dielectric stack. At least one through array contact is electrically connected with a peripheral circuit.

Embodiments of structure and methods for forming a three-dimensional (3D) memory device are provided. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a substrate, an alternating layer stack on the substrate, and a barrier structure extending vertically through the alternating layer stack. The alternating layer stack includes (i) an alternating dielectric stack having a plurality of dielectric layer pairs enclosed laterally by at least the barrier structure, and (ii) an alternating conductor/dielectric stack having a plurality of conductor/dielectric layer pairs. The 3D memory device also includes a channel structure and a source structure each extending vertically through the alternating conductor/dielectric stack, and a contact structure extending vertically through the alternating dielectric stack. The source structure includes at least one staggered portion along a respective sidewall.

A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes a substrate, a stacked body including conductive layers and insulating layers alternately stacked on the substrate, and first contact plugs individually connected to the conductive layers on an end of the stacked body. The semiconductor device includes, on the substrate, a lower layer three-dimensional structure including any of a lower layer inclined structure continuously inclined upward with respect to a flat surface of the substrate, a lower layer stepped structure inclined upward in a stepwise manner with respect to the flat surface, and a lower layer composite stepped structure in which planes parallel to the flat surface and slopes inclined upward with respect to the flat surface are alternately continuous. At least some of terrace regions being connection regions to the first contact plugs on top surfaces of the conductive layers are located on the lower layer three-dimensional structure.

A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack, a retro-stepped dielectric material portion overlying stepped surfaces of the alternating stack, a laterally perforated support pillar structure vertically extending through the alternating stack and the retro-stepped dielectric material portion, and a layer contact via structure laterally surrounded by the laterally perforated support pillar structure and contacting a top surface of a topmost electrically conductive layer within an area of the laterally perforated support pillar structure. Each electrically conductive layer within the area of the laterally perforated support pillar structure extends through the lateral openings.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate expanding in a first direction and a second direction, a plurality of conductive layers arranged in a third direction with a distance therebetween, the conductive layers including a first conductive layer, and each including a first portion and a second portion being arranged with the first portion in the second direction and including a terrace portion provided so as not to overlap an upper conductive layer in the third direction, a first insulating portion provided between the first portions and the second portions, and a first insulating layer arranged with the first portion of the first conductive layer in the second direction with the first insulating portion interposed therebetween.

A semiconductor memory device includes a memory chip. The memory chip includes a first region including a plurality of first memory cells and second memory cells, a second region different from the first region, a plurality of first word lines stacked apart from each other in a first direction in the first and second regions, a first pillar including a first semiconductor layer extending through the first word lines, and a first insulator layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the first word lines, in the first region, the first memory cells being located at intersections of the first pillar with the first word lines, a first bonding pad in the second region, and a first transistor between the first word lines and the first bonding pad, and connected between one of the first word lines and the first bonding pad, in the second region.

Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies. A conductive structure is formed to include a semiconductor-containing material over a metal-containing material. An opening is formed to extend into the conductive structure. A conductive material is formed along a bottom of the opening. A stack of alternating first and second materials is formed over the conductive structure either before or after forming the conductive material. Insulative material and/or channel material is formed to extend through the stack to contact the conductive material. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies.

A semiconductor memory device includes an electrode structure including a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers which are alternately stacked on a source plate defined with a cell area and a connection area in a first direction; a vertical channel passing through the electrode structure in the cell area; a hard mask pattern disposed on the electrode structure in the connection area, and having a plurality of opening holes; a plurality of contact holes defined in the electrode structure under the opening holes, and exposing pad areas of the electrode layers; and a slit dividing the hard mask pattern into units smaller than the electrode structure in the connection area.