A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may be provided. The semiconductor device may include a source line formed over a substrate. The semiconductor device may include a channel pattern including a connection part disposed over the source line, and pillar parts protruding from the connection part in a first direction. The semiconductor device may include a well structure protruding from the connection part in the first direction and spaced apart from the source line. The semiconductor device may include a source contact structure protruding from the source line in the first direction and passing through the connection part. The semiconductor device may include a gate stack disposed between the source contact structure and the well structure and enclosing the pillar parts over the connection part.

Memory cells programmed via multi-mechanism charge transports are described herein. An example apparatus includes a semiconductor material, a tunneling material formed on the semiconductor material, a charge trapping material formed on the tunneling material, a charge blocking material formed on the charge trapping material, and a metal gate formed on the charge blocking material. The charge trapping material comprises gallium nitride (GaN), and the memory cell is programmed to the target state via the multi-mechanism charge transport such that charges are simultaneously transported to the charge trapping material through a plurality of different channels.

The present disclosure includes multifunctional memory cells. A number of embodiments include a gate element, a charge transport element, a first charge storage element configured to store a first charge transported from the gate element and through the charge transport element, wherein the first charge storage element includes a nitride material, and a second charge storage element configured to store a second charge transported from the gate element and through the charge transport element, wherein the second charge storage element includes a gallium nitride material.

The present disclosure includes multifunctional memory cells. A number of embodiments include a charge transport element having an oxygen-rich silicon oxynitride material, a volatile charge storage element configured to store a first charge transported through the charge transport element, and a non-volatile charge storage element configured to store a second charge transported through the charge transport element, wherein the non-volatile charge storage element includes a gallium nitride material.

A 3D memory device, the device including: a first vertical pillar; a second vertical pillar, where the first vertical pillar and the second vertical pillar function as a source or a drain for a plurality of overlaying horizontally-oriented memory transistors, where the plurality of overlaying horizontally-oriented memory transistors are self-aligned being formed following the same lithography step; and memory control circuits, where the memory control circuits are disposed at least partially directly underneath the plurality of overlaying horizontally-oriented memory transistors, or are disposed at least partially directly above the plurality of overlaying horizontally-oriented memory transistors.

Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The three-dimensional semiconductor devices include an electrode structure with sequentially-stacked electrodes disposed on a substrate, semiconductor patterns penetrating the electrode structure, and memory elements including a first pattern and a second pattern interposed between the semiconductor patterns and the electrode structure, the first pattern vertically extending to cross the electrodes and the second pattern horizontally extending to cross the semiconductor patterns.

A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may be provided. The semiconductor device may include a source line formed over a substrate. The semiconductor device may include a channel pattern including a connection part disposed over the source line, and pillar parts protruding from the connection part in a first direction. The semiconductor device may include a well structure protruding from the connection part in the first direction and spaced apart from the source line. The semiconductor device may include a source contact structure protruding from the source line in the first direction and passing through the connection part. The semiconductor device may include a gate stack disposed between the source contact structure and the well structure and enclosing the pillar parts over the connection part.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming a memory cell. The method may be performed by forming a select gate on a side of a sacrificial spacer that is disposed over an upper surface of a substrate. The select gate has a non-planar top surface. An inter-gate dielectric layer is formed on the select gate and a memory gate is formed on the inter-gate dielectric layer. The inter-gate dielectric layer extends under the memory gate and defines a recess between sidewalls of the memory gate and select gate. The recess is filled with a first dielectric material.

In one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a vertical state transistor disposed in a semiconductor substrate, where the vertical state transistor is configured to trap charges in a dielectric interface between a semiconductor well and a control gate. A vertical selection transistor is disposed in the semiconductor substrate. The vertical selection transistor is disposed under the state transistor, and configured to select the state transistor.

A method includes planarizing a protective layer over gate materials overlying a recessed region in a substrate. The planarizing includes forming a first planarized surface by planarizing a sacrificial layer over the protective layer, and forming a second planarized surface of the protective layer by etching the first planarized surface of the sacrificial layer at an even rate across the recessed region. An etch mask layer is formed over the second planarized surface, and control gate stacks are formed in the recessed region by etching the gate materials.