Abstract: Embodiments of staircase and contact structures of a three-dimensional (3D) memory device and fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The 3D memory device includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of through-substrate-trenches penetrating the semiconductor substrate. The 3D memory device also includes a film stack disposed on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate extending through the through-substrate-trenches to a second surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the film stack includes alternating conductive and dielectric layers. The 3D memory device also includes a staircase structure formed at an edge of the film stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a staircase structure disposed over a substrate. The staircase structure includes a plurality of layer stacks, where each layer stack is made of a first material layer over a portion of a second material layer. The staircase structure further includes a plurality of landing pads, where each landing pad is disposed over another portion of the second material layer of a respective layer stack.

Abstract: Embodiments of 3D memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a memory stack including interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers, a channel structure extending vertically through the memory stack, and a semiconductor layer above the memory stack. The channel structure includes a channel plug in a lower portion of the channel structure, a memory film along a sidewall of the channel structure, and a semiconductor channel over the memory film and in contact with the channel plug. The semiconductor layer includes a semiconductor plug above and in contact with the semiconductor channel.

Abstract: A memory device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a first substrate and one or more peripheral devices on the first substrate. The second semiconductor structure includes a first set of conductive lines electrically coupled with a first set of a plurality of vertical structures and a second set of conductive lines electrically coupled with a second set of the plurality of vertical structures different from the first set of the plurality of vertical structures. The first set of conductive lines are vertically distanced from one end of the plurality of vertical structures and the second set of conductive lines are vertically distanced from an opposite end of the plurality of vertical structures.

Abstract: Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices having multiple memory stacks and methods for forming the 3D memory devices are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a first device chip, a second device chip, and a bonding interface. The first device chip includes a peripheral device and a first interconnect layer. The second device chip includes a substrate, two memory stacks disposed on opposite sides of the substrate, two memory strings each extending vertically through one of the two memory stacks, and a second interconnect layer. The bonding interface is formed vertically between the first interconnect layer of the first device chip and the second interconnect layer of the second device chip.

Abstract: Embodiments of semiconductor structures including word line contact structures for three-dimensional memory devices and fabrication methods for forming word line contact structures are disclosed. The semiconductor structures include a staircase structure having a plurality of steps, and each step includes a conductive layer disposed over a dielectric layer. The semiconductor structures further include a barrier layer disposed over a portion of the conductive layer of each step. The semiconductor structures also include an etch-stop layer disposed on the barrier layer and an insulating layer disposed on the etch-stop layer. The semiconductor structures also include a plurality of conductive structures formed in the insulating layer and each conductive structure is formed on the conductive layer of each step.

Abstract: Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices having a memory layer that confines electron transportation and methods for forming the same are disclosed. A method for forming a 3D memory device includes the following operations. First, an initial channel hole can be formed in a structure. The structure can include a staircase structure. The structure can include a plurality first layers and a plurality of second layers alternatingly arranged over a substrate. An offset can be formed between a side surface of each one of the plurality of first layers and a side surface of each one of the plurality of second layers on a sidewall of the initial channel hole to form a channel hole. A semiconductor channel can then be formed based on the channel hole. Further, a plurality of gate electrodes can be formed based on the plurality of second layers.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate structure of a 3D memory device is provided. The method comprises: forming an alternating layer stack on a substrate; forming a plurality of channel holes in the alternating layer stack, each penetrating vertically through the alternating layer stack; forming a functional layer including a storage layer on a sidewall of each channel hole, wherein the storage layer has an uneven surface; forming a channel layer to cover the functional layer in each channel hole; and forming a filling structure to cover the channel layer and fill each channel hole.

Abstract: Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices having a memory layer that confines electron transportation and methods for forming the same are disclosed. A method for forming a 3D memory device includes the following operations. An initial channel hole in a structure is formed. The structure includes a plurality first layers and a plurality of second layers alternatingly arranged over a substrate. An offset between a side surface of each one of the plurality of first layers and a side surface of each one of the plurality of second layers can be formed on a sidewall of the initial channel hole to form a channel hole. The channel hole with a channel-forming structure can be formed to form a semiconductor channel. The channel-forming structure can include a memory layer extending along a vertical direction. The plurality of second layers can then be replaced with a plurality of gate electrodes.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. A first structure of first stacked insulating layers including a first via over a contact region is formed. A second structure is formed by filling at least a top region of the first via with a sacrificial layer. A third structure including the second structure and second stacked insulating layers stacked above the second structure is formed. The third structure further includes a second via aligned with the first via and extending through the second stacked insulating layers. A fourth structure is formed by removing the sacrificial layer to form an extended via including the first via and the second via. A plurality of weights associated with the first structure, the second structure, the third structure, and the fourth structure is determined, and a quality of the extended via is determined based on the plurality of weights.

Abstract: A method for forming a 3D memory device is disclosed. The method comprises: forming an alternating conductive/dielectric stack on a substrate; forming a slit vertically penetrating the alternating conductive/dielectric stack; forming an isolation layer on a sidewall of the slit; forming a first conductive layer covering the isolation layer; performing a plasma treatment followed by a first doping process to the first conductive layer; forming a second conductive layer covering the first conductive and filling the slit; performing a second doping process followed by a rapid thermal crystallization process to the second conductive layer; removing an upper portion of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer to form a recess in the slit; and forming a third conductive layer in the recess.

Abstract: Embodiments of interconnect structures of a three-dimensional (3D) memory device and method for forming the interconnect structures are disclosed. In an example, a 3D NAND memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, an alternating layer stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric structure, which extends vertically through the alternating layer stack, on an isolation region of the substrate. Further, the alternating layer stack abuts a sidewall surface of the dielectric structure and the dielectric structure is formed of a dielectric material. The 3D memory device additionally includes one or more through array contacts that extend vertically through the dielectric structure and the isolation region, and one or more channel structures that extend vertically through the alternating layer stack.

Abstract: Methods and structures of a three-dimensional memory device are disclosed. In an example, the memory device includes a first alternating conductor/dielectric stack disposed on the substrate and a layer of silicon carbide disposed over the first alternating conductor/dielectric stack. A second alternating conductor/dielectric stack is disposed on the silicon carbide layer. The memory device includes one or more first structures extending orthogonally with respect to the surface of the substrate through the first alternating conductor/dielectric stack and over the epitaxially-grown material disposed in the plurality of recesses, and one or more second structures extending orthogonally with respect to the surface of the substrate through the second alternating conductor/dielectric stack. The one or more second structures are substantially aligned over corresponding ones of the one or more first structures.

Abstract: A structure of 3D NAND memory device and manufacturing method are provided. The structure of 3D NAND memory device includes a substrate, a first stack layer on the substrate, a second stack layer on the first stack layer, a block layer between the first stack layer and the second stack layer, and a channel structure extending through the first stack layer, the block layer and the second stack layer, wherein the channel structure comprises a function layer and a channel layer surrounding by the functional layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices and methods for forming the 3D memory devices are disclosed. In an example, a method for forming a 3D memory device is disclosed. A memory stack including interleaved sacrificial layers and dielectric layers is formed above a first substrate. A channel structure extending vertically through the memory stack is formed. A single-crystal silicon layer is formed in a second substrate. An interconnect layer including a bit line is formed on the single-crystal silicon layer above the second substrate. The single-crystal silicon layer and the interconnect layer formed thereon are transferred from the second substrate onto the memory stack above the first substrate, such that the bit line in the interconnect layer is electrically connected to the channel structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of 3D memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a memory stack including interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers, a channel structure extending vertically through the memory stack, and a semiconductor layer above the memory stack. The channel structure includes a channel plug in a lower portion of the channel structure, a memory film along a sidewall of the channel structure, and a semiconductor channel over the memory film and in contact with the channel plug. The semiconductor layer includes a semiconductor plug above and in contact with the semiconductor channel.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes gate layers and insulating layers that are stacked alternatingly along a first direction perpendicular to a substrate of the semiconductor device in a first region upon the substrate. The gate layers and the insulating layers are stacked of a stair-step form in a second region. The semiconductor device includes a channel structure that is disposed in the first region. The channel structure and the gate layers form a stack of transistors in a series configuration with the gate layers being gates for the transistors. The semiconductor device includes a contact structure disposed in the second region, and a first dummy channel structure disposed in the second region and around the contact structure. The first dummy channel structure is patterned with a first shape that is different from a second shape of the channel structure.

Abstract: A method for forming 3D memory device includes forming an alternating dielectric stack in a contact region on a substrate, forming a plurality of contact holes with various depths vertically extending in the alternating dielectric stack, forming a sacrificial-filling layer to fill the contact holes, forming a plurality of dummy channel holes penetrating the alternating dielectric stack in the contact region, filling the dummy channel holes with a dielectric material to form supporters, and replacing the sacrificial layers of the alternating dielectric stack and the sacrificial-filling layer with conductive layers so as to form a plurality of gate lines and contacts.

Abstract: A method for forming 3D memory device includes forming an alternating dielectric stack in a contact region on a substrate, forming a plurality of contact holes with various depths vertically extending in the alternating dielectric stack, forming a sacrificial-filling layer to fill the contact holes, forming a plurality of dummy channel holes penetrating the alternating dielectric stack in the contact region, filling the dummy channel holes with a dielectric material to form supporters, and replacing the sacrificial layers of the alternating dielectric stack and the sacrificial-filling layer with conductive layers so as to form a plurality of gate lines and contacts.

Abstract: Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices having multiple memory stacks and methods for forming the 3D memory devices are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a first device chip, a second device chip, and a bonding interface. The first device chip includes a peripheral device and a first interconnect layer. The second device chip includes a substrate, two memory stacks disposed on opposite sides of the substrate, two memory strings each extending vertically through one of the two memory stacks, and a second interconnect layer. The bonding interface is formed vertically between the first interconnect layer of the first device chip and the second interconnect layer of the second device chip.