Aspects of the disclosure provide a memory system, a semiconductor device and fabrication method for the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a memory stack with gate layers and insulating layers, and the gate layers and the insulating layers are stacked alternatingly. The semiconductor device also includes a first channel structure formed in a first channel hole in the memory stack. The first channel structure includes a channel plug in connection with a channel layer of the first channel structure. The semiconductor device also includes an isolation stack including a landing liner layer and an isolation layer. A first portion of the landing liner layer is laid on the channel plug. The semiconductor device includes a first contact structure formed in the isolation stack. The first contact structure is connected to the channel plug via an opening in the first portion of the landing liner layer.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second stack units disposed over the semiconductor substrate, and a feature disposed between the first and second stack units. Each of the first and second stack units includes at least one stack that includes a conductive film and a dielectric film stacked on each other. The feature includes a plurality of repeating units and a plurality of separators disposed to alternate with the repeating units. Each of the repeating units includes an inner portion including a pair of conductive pillars, and an outer portion including a memory film and a channel film. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device is also disclosed.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second stack units disposed over the semiconductor substrate, and a feature disposed between the first and second stack units. Each of the first and second stack units includes at least one stack that includes a conductive film and a dielectric film stacked on each other. The feature includes a plurality of repeating units and a plurality of separators disposed to alternate with the repeating units. Each of the repeating units includes an inner portion including a pair of conductive pillars, and an outer portion including a memory film and a channel film. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device is also disclosed.

According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory and a controller. The memory system is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation. In the first operation, the controller issues a first command sequence, the semiconductor memory applies a first voltage to a first word line and applies a second voltage to a second word line to read data from the first memory, and the read data is transmitted to the controller from the semiconductor memory. In the second operation, the controller issues a second command sequence, the semiconductor memory applies a third voltage to the first word line and applies a fourth voltage to the second word line, and data held in the memory cell array is left untransmitted to the controller.

A semiconductor structure includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and composite layers. Each of the composite layers includes a plurality of electrically conductive word line strips laterally extending along a first horizontal direction and a plurality of dielectric isolation strips laterally extending along the first horizontal direction and interlaced with the plurality of electrically conductive word line strips. Rows of memory openings are arranged along the first horizontal direction. Each row of memory openings vertically extends through each insulating layer within the alternating stack and one electrically conductive strip for each of the composite layers. Rows of memory opening fill structures are located within the rows of memory openings. Each of the memory opening fill structures includes a respective vertical stack of memory elements and a respective vertical semiconductor channel.

A semiconductor structure includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and composite layers. Each of the composite layers includes a plurality of electrically conductive word line strips laterally extending along a first horizontal direction and a plurality of dielectric isolation strips laterally extending along the first horizontal direction and interlaced with the plurality of electrically conductive word line strips. Rows of memory openings are arranged along the first horizontal direction. Each row of memory openings vertically extends through each insulating layer within the alternating stack and one electrically conductive strip for each of the composite layers. Rows of memory opening fill structures are located within the rows of memory openings. Each of the memory opening fill structures includes a respective vertical stack of memory elements and a respective vertical semiconductor channel.

A semiconductor device includes a stack structure having gate electrodes and interlayer insulating layers, the stack structure having a cell region and a step region, and the gate electrodes extending in a first direction to have a step shape in the step region, channel structures through the stack structure in the cell region, separation structures through the stack structure and extending in the first direction, and support structures between the separation structures and through the stack structure in the step region. The step region includes first and second regions, the first region closer to the cell region in the first direction than the second region is, the support structures include first and second support structures through the stack structure in the first and second regions, respectively, a maximum width of the first support structure being greater than that of the second support structure.

A semiconductor device includes a stack structure having gate electrodes and interlayer insulating layers, the stack structure having a cell region and a step region, and the gate electrodes extending in a first direction to have a step shape in the step region, channel structures through the stack structure in the cell region, separation structures through the stack structure and extending in the first direction, and support structures between the separation structures and through the stack structure in the step region. The step region includes first and second regions, the first region closer to the cell region in the first direction than the second region is, the support structures include first and second support structures through the stack structure in the first and second regions, respectively, a maximum width of the first support structure being greater than that of the second support structure.

A 3D-NAND memory includes a transistor formed in a first side of a periphery circuit substrate, a memory cell stack formed over a first side of a cell array substrate, and a first connection structure formed over an opposing second side of the cell array substrate. The memory cell stack includes a doped region formed in the first side of the cell array substrate and coupled to the first connection structure through a first VIA, a common source structure that extends from the doped region toward the first side of the periphery circuit substrate, and a second connection structure that is positioned over and coupled to the common source structure. The first side of the cell array substrate and the first side of the periphery circuit substrate are aligned facing each other so that the transistor is coupled to the second connection structure.

A method for forming a memory device includes providing an initial semiconductor structure, including a base substrate; a first sacrificial layer formed on the base substrate; a stack structure, disposed on the first sacrificial layer; a plurality of channels, formed through the stack structure and the first sacrificial layer; and a gate-line trench, formed through the stack structure and exposing the first sacrificial layer. The method also includes forming at least one protective layer on the sidewalls of the gate-line trench; removing the first sacrificial layer to expose a portion of each of the plurality of channels and the surfaces of the base substrate, using the at least one protective layer as an etch mask; and forming an epitaxial layer on the exposed surfaces of the base substrate and the plurality of channels.