A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a preliminary source structure including a source sacrificial layer and an upper source layer, forming a hole in the preliminary source structure, forming a preliminary memory layer on a surface of the hole, forming a channel layer on the preliminary memory layer, forming a trench passing through the upper source layer, forming a first buffer pattern by performing a surface treatment on a side portion of the upper source layer exposed by the trench, forming a cavity exposing a portion of the preliminary memory layer by removing the source sacrificial layer, forming an expanded cavity exposing a portion of the channel layer by removing the portion of the preliminary memory layer, and forming a source layer in the expanded cavity.

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.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming holes passing through a stacked structure, surrounding channel structures, and replacing some of the materials of the stacked structure through the holes.

The present disclosure includes three dimensional memory arrays. An embodiment includes a first plurality of conductive lines separated from one another by an insulation material, a second plurality of conductive lines arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to and pass through the first plurality of conductive lines and the insulation material, and a storage element material formed between the first and second plurality of conductive lines where the second plurality of conductive lines pass through the first plurality of conductive lines. The storage element material is between and in direct contact with a first portion of each respective one of the first plurality of conductive lines and a portion of a first one of the second plurality of conductive lines, and a second portion of each respective one of the first plurality of conductive lines and a portion of a second one of the second plurality of conductive lines.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of word line structures disposed over the substrate to be spaced apart from each other in a first direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. Each of the plurality of word line structures extends in a second direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a switching layer disposed over the substrate to contact side surfaces of the plurality of word line structures, and bit line structures disposed over the substrate to extend in the first direction and to contact a surface of the switching layer. The switching layer is configured to perform a threshold switching operation, and has a variable programmable threshold voltage.

A 3D semiconductor device including: a first level including a plurality of first metal layers; a second level, where the second level overlays the first level, where the second level includes at least one single crystal silicon layer, where the second level includes a plurality of transistors, where each transistor of the plurality of transistors includes a single crystal channel, where the second level includes a plurality of second metal layers, where the plurality of second metal layers include interconnections between the transistors of the plurality of transistors, and where the second level is overlaid by a first isolation layer; and a connective path between the plurality of transistors and the plurality of first metal layers, where the connective path includes a via disposed through at least the single crystal silicon layer, and where the via includes contact with at least one of the plurality of transistors.

A 3D semiconductor device including: a first level including a single crystal silicon layer and a plurality of first transistors, the plurality of first transistors each including a single crystal channel; a first metal layer overlaying the plurality of first transistors; a second metal layer overlaying the first metal layer; a third metal layer overlaying the second metal layer; a second level is disposed above the third metal layer, where the second level includes a plurality of second transistors; a fourth metal layer disposed above the second level; and a connective path between the fourth metal layer and either the third metal layer or the second metal layer, where the connective path includes a via disposed through the second level, where the via has a diameter of less than 800 nm and greater than 5 nm, and where at least one of the plurality of second transistors includes a metal gate.

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.

A memory structured in lines and columns over several superimposed levels, each level comprising an array of memory elements and gate-all-around access transistors, each transistor including a semiconductor nanowire and each gate being insulated from the gates of the other levels, further comprising: conductive portions, each crossing at least two levels and coupled to first ends of the nanowires of one column of the levels; memory stacks, each crossing the levels and coupled to second ends of the nanowires of said column; first conductive lines, each connected to the conductive portions of the same column; word lines each extending in the same level while coupling together the gates of the same line and located in said level.

Disclosed is a variable resistance memory device including a first conductive line extending in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the substrate, memory cells spaced apart from each other in the first direction on a side of the first conductive line and connected to the first conductive line, and second conductive lines respectively connected to the memory cells. Each second conductive line is spaced apart in a second direction from the first conductive line. The second direction is parallel to the top surface of the substrate and intersects the first direction. The second conductive lines extend in a third direction perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate and are spaced apart from each other in the first direction. Each memory cell includes a variable resistance element and a select element that are positioned at a same level horizontally arranged in the second direction.