A method includes forming a semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor layer is patterned to form a semiconductive structure. Each of widths of two ends of the semiconductive structure is wider than a width of a middle of the semiconductive structure. The semiconductive structure is doped to form a doped semiconductor structure. An isolation structure is formed to surround the doped semiconductor structure. A recessing process is performed such that two trenches are formed on the doped semiconductor structure, and first, second and third portions of an active region are formed on the semiconductor substrate. A first gate structure and a second gate structure are formed in the trenches such that the first portion and the third portion are partially spaced apart by the first gate structure, and the second portion and the third portion are partially spaced apart by the second gate structure.

A three-dimensional semiconductor memory device includes an electrode structure including gate electrodes and insulating layers, which are alternately stacked on a substrate, a semiconductor pattern extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate and penetrating the electrode structure, a tunnel insulating layer disposed between the semiconductor pattern and the electrode structure, a blocking insulating layer disposed between the tunnel insulating layer and the electrode structure, and a charge storing layer disposed between the blocking insulating layer and the tunnel insulating layer. The charge storing layer includes a plurality of first charge trap layers having a first energy band gap, and a second charge trap layer having a second energy band gap larger than the first energy band gap. The first charge trap layers are embedded in the second charge trap layer between the gate electrodes and the semiconductor pattern.

A semiconductor structure includes an active region, an isolation structure, a first gate structure, and a second gate structure. The active region is disposed over a semiconductor substrate and has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The third portion is between the first portion and the second portion. A shape of the first portion is different from a shape of the third portion, in a top view. The isolation structure is disposed over the semiconductor substrate and surrounds the active region. The first gate structure is disposed between the first portion and the third portion of the active region. The second gate structure is disposed between the second portion and the third portion of the active region.

Vertical memory devices, and methods of manufacturing the same, include providing a substrate including a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region, forming a mold structure in the cell array region, forming an opening for a common source line passing through the mold structure and extending in a first direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate, forming a first contact plug having an inner sidewall delimiting a recessed region in the opening for the common source line, and forming a common source bit line contact electrically connected to the inner sidewall of the first contact plug.

A vertical memory device includes gate electrodes disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. A channel extends in the vertical direction and is positioned adjacent to the gate electrodes. A tunnel insulation pattern is disposed on a portion of an outer sidewall of the channel that is adjacent to each of the gate electrodes. Charge trapping pattern structures are disposed between the tunnel insulation pattern and each of the gate electrodes. Each of the charge trapping pattern structures includes upper and lower charge trapping patterns spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. Blocking pattern structures are between the charge trapping patterns and each of the gate electrodes. A first portion of the channel that is adjacent to the tunnel insulation pattern has a thickness in a horizontal direction that is smaller than a thickness of other portions of the channel.

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first electrode, a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, a third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, a gate electrode, and a second electrode. The gate electrode includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion opposes the third semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region, and a portion of the first semiconductor region in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction from the first electrode toward the first semiconductor region. The second portion is arranged with the first portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first and first directions. The second portion opposes the second semiconductor region in the first direction. A lower end of the second portion is positioned higher than an interface between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region.

A vertical memory device includes a substrate having a trench structure, gate electrodes on the substrate, the gate electrodes being spaced apart from each other in a first direction substantially vertical to an upper surface of the substrate, a channel including a vertical portion extending through the gate electrodes in the first direction, and a horizontal portion extending in the trench structure in a second direction substantially parallel to the upper surface of the substrate, the horizontal portion being connected the vertical portion, and an epitaxial layer on a first portion of the substrate and connected to the horizontal portion of the channel, the first portion of the substrate being adjacent to ends of the gate electrode in the second direction.

A semiconductor device comprises a memory storage component and a transistor in operable communication with the memory storage element. The transistor comprises a source region, a drain region, a gate electrode between the source region and the drain region, a charge trapping material surrounding at least an upper portion of the gate electrode, and an oxide material on sides of the charge trapping material. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Vertical memory devices, and methods of manufacturing the same, include providing a substrate including a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region, forming a mold structure in the cell array region, forming an opening for a common source line passing through the mold structure and extending in a first direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate, forming a first contact plug having an inner sidewall delimiting a recessed region in the opening for the common source line, and forming a common source bit line contact electrically connected to the inner sidewall of the first contact plug.

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.