A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line, a common source pattern above the bit line, a channel layer in contact with the common source pattern, the channel layer extending toward the bit line, and a filling insulating layer disposed between the bit line and the common source pattern, the filling insulating layer surrounding a first part of the channel layer. The semiconductor memory device also includes a gate stack structure disposed between the bit line and the filling insulating layer, the gate stack structure surrounding a second part of the channel layer. The semiconductor memory device further includes a first etch stop pattern on a sidewall of the filling insulating layer, a second etch stop pattern between the first etch stop pattern and the filling insulating layer, and a memory pattern between the gate stack structure and the channel layer.

Semiconductor devices may include a gate stack including electrode layers stacked alternately with insulating layers and channel structures in the electrode layers and the insulating layers; a cell region insulating layer and an upper support layer on the gate stack; and a separation region in the gate stack and the cell region insulating layer. The separation regions may include a first separation region in the upper support layer and a second separation region below the upper support layer. The first separation region may include a first region in the upper support layer, a second region in the cell region insulating layer, and a third region in the gate electrode layers. The first separation region may further include has a first bend portion in the second region and a second bend portion that may be higher than the first bend portion and uppermost surfaces of the channel structures.

A semiconductor device includes a first substrate structure including a substrate, circuit elements, and first bonding metal layers, and a second substrate structure connected to the first substrate structure. The second substrate structure includes a plate layer, gate electrodes stacked in a first direction below the plate layer, separation regions penetrating through the gate electrodes and extending in a second direction and spaced apart from each other in the second direction, an insulating region extending from an upper surface of the plate layer and penetrating through the plate layer and at least one of the gate electrodes between the separation regions, and second bonding metal layers connected to the first bonding metal layers. The insulating region has inclined side surfaces such that a width of the insulating region decreases in a direction toward the first substrate structure.

Device, systems, and structures include a stack of vertically-alternating tiers of materials arranged in one or more decks of tiers. A channel opening, in which a channel pillar may be formed, extends through the stack. The pillar includes a “shoulder portion” extending laterally into an “undercut portion” of the channel opening, which undercut portion is defined along at least a lower tier of at least one of the decks of the stack.

A semiconductor memory includes electrode structures that each includes horizontal electrodes stacked on each other a substrate, vertical electrodes between the electrode structures and extending along the horizontal electrodes, first contacts connected to the horizontal electrodes at end portions of the electrode structures, second contacts connected to upper portions of the vertical electrodes, and a first interconnection structure connected to top surfaces of the second contacts. The first interconnection structure includes first and second sub-interconnection lines. The sub-interconnection lines extend in a first direction and contact the top surfaces of the second contacts. The second sub-interconnection lines extended in a second direction crossing the first direction and contact the first sub-interconnection lines.

A method of forming a three-dimensional memory device includes forming an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers over a substrate, forming a memory opening extending through the alternating stack, forming a sacrificial memory opening fill structure in the memory opening, replacing the sacrificial material layers with electrically conductive layers, removing the sacrificial memory opening fill structure selective to the electrically conductive layers, and forming a memory opening fill structure the memory opening after replacing the sacrificial material layers with electrically conductive layers and after removing the sacrificial memory opening fill structure. The memory opening fill structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel.

Two types of support pillar structures are formed in a staircase region of an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers. First-type support pillar structures are formed in areas distal from backside trenches to be subsequently formed, and second-type support pillar structures may be formed in areas proximal to the backside trenches. The second-type support pillar structures may be formed as dielectric support pillar structures, or may be formed with at least one additional dielectric spacer.

A method of forming a three-dimensional memory device includes forming an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers over a substrate, forming a memory opening extending through the alternating stack, forming a sacrificial memory opening fill structure in the memory opening, replacing the sacrificial material layers with electrically conductive layers, removing the sacrificial memory opening fill structure selective to the electrically conductive layers, and forming a memory opening fill structure the memory opening after replacing the sacrificial material layers with electrically conductive layers and after removing the sacrificial memory opening fill structure. The memory opening fill structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel.

A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory openings extending through the alternating stack, and memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings and containing a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film. Each of the electrically conductive layers includes a tubular metallic liner in contact with a respective outer sidewall segment of a respective one of the memory opening fill structures, an electrically conductive barrier layer contacting the respective tubular metallic liner and two of the insulating layers, and a metallic fill material layer contacting the electrically conductive barrier layer, and not contacting the tubular metallic liner or any of the insulating layers. The memory opening fill structures are formed after performing a halogen outgassing anneal through the memory openings to reduce or eliminate the halogen outgassing damage in the layers of the memory film.

A semiconductor memory device includes a first semiconductor layer, first conductive layers, electric charge accumulating portions, a first conductivity-typed second semiconductor layer, a first wiring, a second conductivity-typed third semiconductor layer, and a second conductive layer. The first semiconductor layer extends in a first direction. First conductive layers are arranged in the first direction and extend in a second direction. Electric charge accumulating portions are disposed between the first semiconductor layer and first conductive layers. The second semiconductor layer is connected to one end of the first semiconductor layer. The first wiring is connected to the first semiconductor layer via the second semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer is connected to a side surface in a third direction of the first semiconductor layer. The second conductive layer extends in the second direction and is connected to the first semiconductor layer via the third semiconductor layer.