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.

The present disclosure includes memory cells programmed via multi-mechanism charge transports. 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.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating film having a first thickness over a main surface of a semiconductor substrate and then forming a second insulating film having a second thickness larger than the first thickness over the first insulating film, sequentially processing the second insulating film, the first insulating film, and the semiconductor substrate to form a plurality of trenches and to form a plurality of projecting portions which include portions of the semiconductor substrate extending in a first direction along the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and are spaced apart from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction along the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and depositing a third insulating film over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate such that the third insulating film is embedded in the trenches.

In an example, a memory array may include a memory cell around at least a portion of a semiconductor. The memory cell may include a gate, a first dielectric stack to store a charge between a first portion of the gate and the semiconductor, and a second dielectric stack to store a charge between a second portion of the gate and the semiconductor, the second dielectric stack separate from the first dielectric stack.

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 synapse device, a manufacturing method thereof, and a neuromorphic device including the synapse device are disclosed. The synapse device may include a channel member, a tunnel insulating layer disposed on the channel member, a charge trap layer disposed on the tunnel insulating layer, a blocking insulating layer disposed on the charge trap layer, a gate electrode disposed on the blocking insulating layer, a first terminal and a second terminal respectively connected to first and second regions of the channel member, and first and second conductors respectively bonded to the first and second terminals The charge trap layer may have a multilayer structure including a first trap layer disposed adjacent to the channel member and a second trap layer disposed adjacent to the gate electrode. The first trap layer may have a trap of a shallower level than that of the second trap layer.

A memory device includes plural electrode layers stacked in a first direction, a semiconductor layer interacting with the plural electrode layers and extending in the first direction, a first insulating film provided between the semiconductor layer and at least one electrode layer and extending along the semiconductor layer in the first direction, and a charge trapping film provided between the electrode layer and the first insulating film. The memory device further includes a second insulating film provided between the charge trapping film and the first insulating film and in contact with the first insulating film. In a flat band state, the charge trapping film has a first trap level located at a level deeper than a conduction band of the semiconductor layer and the second insulating film has a second trap level that is closer to the conduction band of the semiconductor layer than the first trap level.

There is provided a semiconductor device including a memory region and a logic region. The memory region includes a transistor (memory transistor) that stores information by accumulating charge in a sidewall insulating film. The width of the sidewall insulating film of the memory transistor included in the memory region is made larger than the width of a sidewall insulating film of a transistor (logic transistor) included in the logic region.

In an example, a memory array may include a memory cell around at least a portion of a semiconductor. The memory cell may include a gate, a first dielectric stack to store a charge between a first portion of the gate and the semiconductor, and a second dielectric stack to store a charge between a second portion of the gate and the semiconductor, the second dielectric stack separate from the first dielectric stack.

A 3D memory device includes a conductor/insulator stack containing a conductive layer and a dielectric layer alternatingly stacked, channel hole structures in a first region of memory cells in the conductor/insulator stack, a blocking structure adjacent to the first region, and a dummy channel hole structure in the first region. The dummy channel hole structure is adjacent to the blocking structure, and includes a dielectric material that fills a channel hole to form a first dielectric filling structure.