Methods of forming 3D NAND devices are discussed. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with increased cell density. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with decreased vertical and/or later pitch between cells. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with smaller CD memory holes. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with silicon layer between alternating oxide and nitride materials.

A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of word lines and at least one insulating layers or air gaps located over a substrate, a memory opening fill structure extending through the alternating stack. The memory opening fill structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. The word lines are thicker than the insulating layers or air gaps.

A semiconductor device includes a gate structure including conductive layers and insulating layers alternately stacked with each other, channel structures passing through the gate structure and arranged in a first direction, a cutting structure extending in the first direction and passing through the channel structures, and a first slit structure passing through the gate structure and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction.

A process forms thin-film storage transistors (e.g., HNOR devices) with improved channel regions by conformally depositing a thin channel layer in a cavity bordering a source region and a drain region, such that a portion of the channel material abuts by junction contact the source region and another portion of the channel layer abut by junction contact the drain region. The cavity is also bordered by a storage layer. In one form of the process, the channel region is formed before the storage layer is formed. In another form of the storage layer is formed before the channel region is formed.

According to an embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a first conductive layer, electrodes, an interconnection layer and at least one semiconductor layer. The electrodes are arranged between the first conductive layer and the interconnection layer in a first direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer. The interconnection layer includes a first interconnection and a second interconnection. The semiconductor layer extends through the electrodes in the first direction, and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer and the first interconnection. The device further includes a memory film between each of the electrodes and the semiconductor layer, and a conductive body extending in the first direction. The conductive body electrically connects the first conductive layer and the second interconnection, and includes a first portion and a second portion connected to the second interconnection. The second portion has a width wider than the first portion.

A 3-dimensional array of NOR memory strings being organized by planes of NOR memory strings, in which (i) the storage transistors in the NOR memory strings situated in a first group of planes are configured to be programmed, erased, program-inhibited or read in parallel, and (ii) the storage transistors in NOR memory strings situated within a second group of planes are configured for storing resource management data relating to data stored in the storage transistors of the NOR memory strings situated within the first group of planes, wherein the storage transistors in NOR memory strings in the second group of planes are configured into sets.

A semiconductor device includes: an alternating stack of conductive layers and dielectric layers disposed over a substrate; a channel layer disposed in a through portion, penetrating through the alternating stack; a blocking layer disposed in the through portion, surrounding an outer wall of the channel layer; and a continuous etch stop layer disposed in the through portion, surrounding an outer wall of the blocking layer.

3D NOR flash memory devices having vertically stacked memory cells are provided. In one aspect, a memory device includes: a word line/bit line stack with alternating word lines and bit lines separated by dielectric layers disposed on a substrate; a channel that extends vertically through the word line/bit line stack; and a floating gate stack surrounding the channel, wherein the floating gate stack is present between the word lines and the channel, and wherein the bit lines are in direct contact with both the channel and the floating gate stack. Techniques for configuring the memory device for neuromorphic computing are provided, as are methods of fabricating the memory device.

A semiconductor memory device includes: a first semiconductor layer extending in a first direction; a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer that are arranged in the first direction and each opposed to the first semiconductor layer; a first insulating portion disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the first conductive layer, the first insulating portion containing oxygen (O) and hafnium (Hf); a second insulating portion disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second conductive layer, the second insulating portion containing oxygen (O) and hafnium (Hf); and a first charge storage layer disposed between the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion, the first charge storage layer being spaced from the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Embodiments of 3D memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a substrate, a memory stack, and a NAND memory string. The memory stack includes a plurality of interleaved gate conductive layers and gate-to-gate dielectric layers above the substrate. Each of the gate-to-gate dielectric layers includes a silicon nitride layer. The NAND memory string extends vertically through the interleaved gate conductive layers and gate-to-gate dielectric layers of the memory stack.