The present invention relates to a semiconductor structure and its forming method, and a memory and its forming method. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a vertical transistor on the substrate, and a bit line connected to the bottom of the vertical transistor and disposed between the bottom of the vertical transistor and the substrate. The vertical transistor in such a semiconductor structure has a relatively small plane dimension.

An array of vertical transistors comprises spaced pillars individually comprising a channel region of individual vertical transistors. A horizontally-elongated conductor line directly electrically couples together individual of the channel regions of the pillars of a plurality of the vertical transistors. An upper source/drain region is above the individual channel regions of the pillars, a lower source/drain region is below the individual channel regions of the pillars, and a conductive gate line is operatively aside the individual channel regions of the pillars and that interconnects multiple of the vertical transistors. Methods are disclosed.

A vertical-type nonvolatile memory device has a multi-stack structure with reduced susceptibility to mis-alignment of a vertical channel layer. This nonvolatile memory device includes: (i) a main chip area including a cell area and an extension area arranged to have a stepped structure, with the cell area and the extension area formed in a multi-stack structure, and (ii) an outer chip area, which surrounds the main chip area and includes a step key therein. The main chip area includes a first layer on a substrate and a second layer on the first layer. A lower vertical channel layer is arranged in the first layer. The step key includes an alignment vertical channel layer, and a top surface of the alignment vertical channel layer is lower than a top surface of the lower vertical channel layer.

A method used in forming an array of memory cells comprises forming a vertical stack comprising transistor material directly above insulator material. A mask is used to subtractively etch both the transistor material and thereafter the insulator material to form a plurality of pillars that individually comprise the transistor material and the insulator material. The insulator material is laterally-recessed from opposing lateral sides of individual of the pillars selectively relative to the transistor material of the individual pillars. The individual pillars are formed to comprise a first capacitor electrode that is in void space formed from the laterally recessing. Capacitors are formed that individually comprise the first capacitor electrode of the individual pillars. A capacitor insulator is aside the first capacitor electrode of the individual pillars and a second capacitor electrode is laterally-outward of the capacitor insulator. Vertical transistors are formed above the capacitors and individually comprise the transistor material of the individual pillars. Other aspects, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

Memory devices including vertical transistors and methods of forming such memory devices are disclosed. An example memory device includes a substrate, a BL in the substrate, a channel region over a portion of the BL, a second region over the channel region, an insulator wrapped around at least a portion of the channel region, and a WL. The BL also operates as one of a source region and a drain region of the transistor. The second region is the other one of the source region and the drain region. The WL wraps around at least a portion of the insulator and is separated from the channel region by the insulator. In some embodiments, the BL is formed in a trench in the substrate. An aspect ratio of the BL is in a range from 0.5 to 10. The BL may have a higher conductivity than the channel region.

A method of forming an array of capacitors comprises forming a plurality of horizontally-spaced groups that individually comprise a plurality of horizontally-spaced lower capacitor electrodes having a capacitor insulator thereover. Adjacent of the groups are horizontally spaced farther apart than are adjacent of the lower capacitor electrodes within the groups. A void space is between the adjacent groups. An upper capacitor electrode material is formed in the void space and in the groups over the capacitor insulator and the lower capacitor electrodes. The upper capacitor electrode material in the void space connects the upper capacitor electrode material that is in the adjacent groups relative to one another. The upper capacitor electrode material less-than-fills the void space. At least a portion of the upper capacitor electrode material is removed from the void space to disconnect the upper capacitor electrode material in the adjacent groups from being connected relative to one another. A horizontally-elongated conductive line is formed atop and is directly electrically coupled to the upper capacitor electrode material in individual of the groups. Other methods, including structure independent of method of manufacture, are disclosed.

Provided are a semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same, a memory device and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor structure includes at least one transistor. Each of the at least one transistor includes a channel including a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer disposed around the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer introduces strain into the channel.

A method used in forming an array of memory cells comprises forming a vertical stack comprising transistor material directly above insulator material. A mask is used to subtractively etch both the transistor material and thereafter the insulator material to form a plurality of pillars that individually comprise the transistor material and the insulator material. The insulator material is laterally-recessed from opposing lateral sides of individual of the pillars selectively relative to the transistor material of the individual pillars. The individual pillars are formed to comprise a first capacitor electrode that is in void space formed from the laterally recessing. Capacitors are formed that individually comprise the first capacitor electrode of the individual pillars. A capacitor insulator is aside the first capacitor electrode of the individual pillars and a second capacitor electrode is laterally-outward of the capacitor insulator. Vertical transistors are formed above the capacitors and individually comprise the transistor material of the individual pillars. Other aspects, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

A capacitor is provided. The capacitor includes a substrate that has opposing first and second main surfaces. The capacitor also includes at least two conductive plates that are formed in the substrate and extend from the first main surface to the second main surface of the substrate. The capacitor further includes at least one insulating structure that is formed between two adjacent conductive plates of the at least two conductive plates and extends from the first main surface to the second main surface.

An integrated circuit includes one or more layers of insulating material defining a vertical bore with a first portion and a second portion. A capacitor structure is in the first portion of the vertical bore and includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric between the first electrode and the second electrode. A transistor structure is in the second portion of the vertical bore and includes a third electrode extending into the second portion of the vertical bore, a layer of semiconductor material in contact with the first electrode and in contact with the second electrode, and a dielectric between the semiconductor material and the insulating material. A fourth electrode wraps around the transistor structure such that the dielectric is between the semiconductor material and the fourth electrode. The capacitor structure can be above or below the transistor structure in a self-aligned vertical arrangement.