This spin current magnetization rotational element includes a first ferromagnetic metal layer for a magnetization direction to be changed, and a spin-orbit torque wiring extending in a second direction intersecting a first direction which is an orthogonal direction to a surface of the first ferromagnetic metal layer and configured to be joined to the first ferromagnetic metal layer, wherein the spin-orbit torque wiring has a structure in which a spin conduction layer joined to the first ferromagnetic metal layer and a spin generation layer joined to the spin conduction layer on a surface on a side opposite to the first ferromagnetic metal layer are laminated.

A TMR element includes a magnetic tunnel junction, a side wall portion that covers a side surface of the magnetic tunnel junction, and a minute particle region that is disposed in the side wall portion. The side wall portion includes an insulation material. The minute particle region includes the insulation material and a plurality of minute magnetic metal particles that are dispersed in the insulation material. The minute particle region is electrically connected in parallel with the magnetic tunnel junction.

An array of vertical transistors comprises spaced pillars individually comprising a channel region of individual vertical transistors. A horizontally-elongated conductor line directly electrically couples together individual of the channel regions of the pillars of a plurality of the vertical transistors. An upper source/drain region is above the individual channel regions of the pillars, a lower source/drain region is below the individual channel regions of the pillars, and a conductive gate line is operatively aside the individual channel regions of the pillars and that interconnects multiple of the vertical transistors. Methods are disclosed.

A memory device includes a silicon-germanium source contact layer, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over the silicon-germanium source contact layer, and a memory stack structure vertically extending through the alternating stack. The memory stack structure comprises a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel that contacts the memory film. The silicon-germanium source contact layer contacts a cylindrical portion of an outer sidewall of the vertical semiconductor channel. Logic circuits for operating the memory elements may be provided on a substrate within a same semiconductor die, or may be provided in another semiconductor die that is bonded to the semiconductor die containing the memory device.

3D-NOR memory array devices and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. A method includes forming a multi-layer stack over a substrate by forming alternating layers of an isolation material and a dummy material. An array of dummy nanostructures is formed in a channel region of the multi-layer stack by performing a wire release process. Once the nanostructures have been formed, a single layer of an oxide semiconductor material is deposited over and surrounds the dummy nanostructures. A memory film is then deposited over the oxide semiconductor material and a conductive wrap-around structure is formed over the memory film. Source/bit line structures may be formed by replacing the layers of the dummy material outside of the channel region with a metal fill material. A staircase conductor structure can be formed the source/bit line structures in a region of the multi-layer stack adjacent the memory array.

Disclosed are a semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor memory device includes a device isolation layer defining active regions of a substrate, and gate lines buried in the substrate and extending across the active regions. Each of the gate lines includes a conductive layer, a liner layer disposed between and separating the conductive layer and the substrate, and a first work function adjusting layer disposed on the conductive layer and the liner layer. The first work function adjusting layer includes a first work function adjusting material. A work function of the first work function adjusting layer is less than those of the conductive layer and the liner layer.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a semiconductor device including a string of transistors stacked in a vertical direction over a substrate of the semiconductor device having a channel structure extending in the vertical direction. The string of transistors includes a first substring arranged along a first portion of the channel structure, a second substring arranged along a second portion of the channel structure, and a third substring arranged along a third portion of the channel structure. The second substring is between the first and the third substrings. Gate structures of transistors in the first substring are separated by first insulating layers. Gate structures of transistors in the second substring are separated by second insulating layers. Gate structures of transistors in the third substring are separated by third insulating layers. A volumetric mass density of the second insulating layers is lower than a volumetric mass density of the third insulating layers.

A switch device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode opposed to the first electrode; and a switch layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the switch layer includes one or more kinds of chalcogen elements selected from tellurium (Te), selenium (Se), and sulfur (S) and one or more kinds of first elements selected from phosphorus (P) and arsenic (As), and further includes one or both of one or more kinds of second elements selected from boron (B) and carbon (C) and one or more kinds of third elements selected from aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), and indium (In).

After a dummy control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode are formed and an interlayer insulating film is formed so as to cover the gate electrodes, the interlayer insulating film is polished to expose the dummy control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. Thereafter, the dummy control gate electrode is removed by etching, and then a control gate electrode is formed in a trench which is a region from which the dummy control gate electrode has been removed. The dummy control gate electrode is made of a non-doped or n type silicon film, and the memory gate electrode is made of a p type silicon film. In the process of removing the dummy control gate electrode, the dummy control gate electrode is removed by performing etching under the condition that the memory gate electrode is less likely to be etched compared with the dummy control gate electrode, in the state where the dummy control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode are exposed.

A memory formation method includes: providing a substrate; forming a first mask layer on the substrate, in the first mask layer there being formed a plurality of parallel-arranged strip-shaped patterns positioned above the array area, and an end of each of the strip-shaped patterns being connected to the first mask layer on the peripheral area of the substrate; forming a second mask layer on the first mask layer, in the second mask layer there being formed a plurality of first patterns; and etching layer by layer by using the second mask layer and the first mask layer as masks to transfer the strip-shaped patterns and the first patterns into the substrate to form the discrete active areas arranged in an array.