Some embodiments of a method for manufacturing integrated circuits include the operations of forming a back gate structure on a substrate, forming a memory layer over the back gate structure, forming a buffer layer over the memory layer, forming a conductive channel over the buffer layer, and forming source/drain regions over the conductive channel. In some embodiments, a second buffer layer is formed between the back gate structure and the memory layer.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first conductive lines extending in a first direction and spaced apart from each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the first direction and second direction being horizontal directions, a plurality of vertical semiconductor patterns disposed on the plurality of first conductive lines, respectively, a gate electrode crossing the plurality of first conductive lines and penetrating each of the plurality of vertical semiconductor patterns, a ferroelectric pattern between the gate electrode and each of the plurality of vertical semiconductor patterns, and a gate insulating pattern between the ferroelectric pattern and each of the plurality of vertical semiconductor patterns.

A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer extending in a first direction; a first gate electrode layer; a first insulating layer between the semiconductor layer and the first gate electrode layer; a second insulating layer between the first insulating layer and the first gate electrode layer, the second insulating layer having a first portion containing a ferroelectric material; and a first layer between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, the first layer containing silicon, nitrogen, and fluorine, the first layer having a first region and a second region between the first region and the second insulating layer, the first layer having a second atomic ratio of nitrogen to silicon in the second region higher than a first atomic ratio of nitrogen to silicon in the first region, and the first layer having fluorine concentration higher than the second region.

A semiconductor memory device includes a stack of alternating insulating layers and first conductive layers disposed over a substrate; a plurality of memory cell strings penetrating the stack over the substrate, each memory cell string comprising a central portion extending through the stack, a semiconductor layer surrounding the central portion, and a ferroelectric layer surrounding the semiconductor layer, and the central portion comprising a channel isolation structure and a second conductive layer and a third conductive layer at two sides of the channel isolation structure; and a plurality of cell isolation structures penetrating the conductive layers and the insulating layers over the substrate and disposed between two memory cell strings, each cell isolation structure comprising a top portion and a bottom portion adjoined to the top portion and different from the top portion.

A ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET) configured as a multi-bit storage device, the FeFET including: a semiconductor substrate that has a source region in the semiconductor substrate, and a drain region in the semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, with the source region and the drain region extending to opposite sides of the gate stack, the gate stack including a ferroelectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, and a gate region over the ferroelectric layer. The transistor also includes first and second ends of the ferroelectric layer which are proximal correspondingly to the source and drain regions. The ferroelectric layer includes dipoles. A first set of dipoles at the first end of the ferroelectric layer has a first polarization. A second set of dipoles at the second end of the ferroelectric layer has a second polarization, the second polarization being substantially opposite of the first polarization.

In an embodiment, a device includes: a first dielectric layer over a substrate; a word line over the first dielectric layer, the word line including a first main layer and a first glue layer, the first glue layer extending along a bottom surface, a top surface, and a first sidewall of the first main layer; a second dielectric layer over the word line; a first bit line extending through the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer; and a data storage strip disposed between the first bit line and the word line, the data storage strip extending along a second sidewall of the word line.

An approach for utilizing an IC (integrated circuit) that is capable of storing multi-bit in storage is disclosed. The approach leverages the use of multiple nanowires structures as channels in a gate of a transistor. The use of multiple nanowires as channels allows for different V.sub.t (i.e., voltage of device) to be dependent on the thickness of the fe (ferroelectric layer) that surrounds each of the nanowire channels. Memory window is about 2d (thickness of a fe layer). Setting voltage is also proportional to the fe layer thickness. The V.sub.t of the device is the superposition of the various fe layers. For example, if there are three channels with three different Fe layer (of varying thickness), then four memory states can be achieved. More states can be achieved based on the number of channels in the device.

A ferroelectric memory device includes a multi-layer stack, a channel layer and a III-V based ferroelectric layer. The multi-layer stack is disposed on a substrate and includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layers stacked alternately. The channel layer penetrates through the plurality of conductive layers and the plurality of dielectric layers of the multi-layer stack. The III-V based ferroelectric layer is disposed between the channel layer and the multi-layer stack, and includes at least one element selected from Group III elements, at least one element selected from Group V elements, and at least one element selected from transition metal elements.

Ferroelectric structures, including a ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFETs), and methods of making the same are disclosed which have improved ferroelectric properties and device performance. A FeFET device including a ferroelectric material gate dielectric layer and a metal oxide semiconductor channel layer is disclosed having improved ferroelectric characteristics, such as increased remnant polarization, low defects, and increased carrier mobility for improved device performance.

A 3D memory array has data storage structures provided at least in part by one or more vertical films that do not extend between vertically adjacent memory cells. The 3D memory array includes conductive strips and dielectric strips, alternately stacked over a substrate. The conductive strips may be laterally indented from the dielectric strips to form recesses. A data storage film may be disposed within these recesses. Any portion of the data storage film deposited outside the recesses may have been effectively removed, whereby the data storage film is essentially discontinuous from tier to tier within the 3D memory array. The data storage film within each tier may have upper and lower boundaries that are the same as those of a corresponding conductive strip. The data storage film may also be made discontinuous between horizontally adjacent memory cells.