A cell includes a Z.sup.2-FET-type structure that is formed with two front gates extending over an intermediate region between an anode region and a cathode region. The individual front gates of the two front gates are spaced apart by a distance that is shorter than 40% of a width of each individual front gate.

Methods and systems for reducing electrical disturb effects between thyristor memory cells in a memory array are provided. Electrical disturb effects between cells are reduced by using a material having a reduced minority carrier lifetime as a cathode line that is embedded within the array. Disturb effects are also reduced by forming a potential well within a cathode line, or a one-sided potential barrier in a cathode line.

Methods of forming semiconductor structures that include bodies of a semiconductor material disposed between rails of a dielectric material are disclosed. Such methods may include filling a plurality of trenches in a substrate with a dielectric material and removing portions of the substrate between the dielectric material to form a plurality of openings. In some embodiments, portions of the substrate may be undercut to form a continuous void underlying the bodies and the continuous void may be filled with a conductive material. In other embodiments, portions of the substrate exposed within the openings may be converted to a silicide material to form a conductive material under the bodies. For example, the conductive material may be used as a conductive line to electrically interconnect memory device components. Semiconductor structures and devices formed by such methods are also disclosed.

Thyristor semiconductor device comprising an anode region, a first base region and a second base region having opposite types of conductivity, and a cathode region, all superimposed along a vertical axis.

A memory device includes at least one semiconductor layer having a double PN junction, and an anode and a cathode which simultaneously contact the semiconductor layer, wherein a junction between the semiconductor layer and the anode is a Schottky junction, and a junction between the semiconductor layer and the cathode is an Ohmic junction. In addition, a capacitor-less memory device includes at least one semiconductor layer including a double PN junction, a control gate which contacts the semiconductor layer, and an anode and a cathode which simultaneously contact the semiconductor layer, wherein a junction between the semiconductor layer and the anode is a Schottky junction, and a junction between the semiconductor layer and the cathode is an Ohmic junction. Methods of operating the memory device and the capacitor-less memory device are also disclosed.

A semiconductor device includes a first conductive line and a second conductive line spaced apart from the first conductive line. A semiconductor pattern is disposed between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The semiconductor pattern includes a first semiconductor pattern having first-conductivity-type impurities disposed adjacent to the first conductive line. A second semiconductor pattern having second-conductivity-type impurities is disposed adjacent to the second conductive line. A third semiconductor pattern is disposed between the first semiconductor pattern and the second semiconductor pattern. The third semiconductor pattern includes a first region disposed adjacent to the first semiconductor pattern and a second region disposed between the first region and the second semiconductor pattern. At least one of the first region and the second region comprises an intrinsic semiconductor layer. A first gate line crosses the first region and a second gate line crosses the second region.

Integrated circuit devices having multiple level arrays of thyristor memory cells are created using a stack of ONO layers through which NPNPNPN layered silicon pillars are epitaxially grown in-situ. Intermediate conducting lines formed in place of the removed nitride layer of the ONO stack contact the middle P-layer of silicon pillars. The silicon pillars form two arrays of thyristor memory cells, one stacked upon the other, having the intermediate conducting lines as common connections to both arrays. The stacked arrays can also be provided with assist-gates.

A semiconductor memory device may include a first electrode and a second electrode, which are spaced apart from each other in a first direction, and a first semiconductor pattern, which is in contact with both of the first and second electrodes. The first semiconductor pattern may include first to fourth sub-semiconductor patterns, which are sequentially disposed in the first direction. The first and fourth sub-semiconductor patterns may be in contact with the first and second electrodes, respectively. The first and third sub-semiconductor patterns may be of a first conductivity type, and the second and fourth sub-semiconductor patterns may be of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. Each of the first to fourth sub-semiconductor patterns may include a transition metal and a chalcogen element.

A method for fabricating a vertical memory device includes: forming a memory cell array that includes a vertical thyristor and a word line over a first substrate; forming a peripheral circuit unit in a second substrate; bonding the memory cell array with the peripheral circuit unit; removing the first substrate to expose one side of the vertical thyristor; and forming a bit line that is coupled to the one side of the vertical thyristor and the peripheral circuit unit.

Thyristor semiconductor device comprising an anode region, a first base region and a second base region having opposite types of conductivity, and a cathode region, all superimposed along a vertical axis.