Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor channel, a gate electrode, and a stack located between the semiconductor channel and the gate electrode. The stack includes, from one side to another, a first ferroelectric material portion, a second ferroelectric material portion, and a gate dielectric portion that contacts the semiconductor channel.

Abstract: A memory device includes a first memory block containing first word lines and a first source layer segment, and a second memory block containing second word lines and a second source layer segment which is electrically isolated from the first source layer segment. The first word lines in the first memory block are electrically connected to the respective second word lines in the second memory block.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein for preventing erase disturb in NAND. Erase voltages are applied to a source line and bit lines associated with selected memory cells, while applying an erase enable voltage to word lines connected to the selected cells. Preventing erase disturb may include raising the channel potential of unselected memory cells to a source line voltage that has a sufficiently low magnitude to not erase the unselected cells given a voltage on word lines connected to the unselected cells. The unselected cells share bit lines with the selected cells and may also share word lines. Preventing erase disturb may also include applying voltages to the select transistors that prevent the erase voltage from passing from the shared bit lines to the channels of the unselected cells. The voltages decrease from the bit lines to the unselected memory cells and may prevent GIDL generation. Current consumption is kept low.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes alternating stacks of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers that laterally extending along a first horizontal direction, and laterally spaced apart along a second horizontal direction by lateral isolation trenches, memory stack structures vertically extending through a respective one of the alternating stacks; and isolation trench fill structures located in the lateral isolation trenches. At least one of the isolation trench fill structures includes a first lengthwise sidewall and a second lengthwise sidewall. The first lengthwise sidewall has a first periodic lateral undulation with a uniform pitch along the first horizontal direction. The second lengthwise sidewall has a second periodic lateral undulation with the uniform pitch along the first horizontal direction.

Abstract: At least a portion of a memory cell is formed over a first substrate and at least a portion of a steering element or word or bit line of the memory cell is formed over a second substrate. The at least a portion of the memory cell is bonded to at least a portion of a steering element or word or bit line. At least one of the first or second substrate may be removed after the bonding.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, an array of memory opening fill structures located within an array of memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, and a drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through drain-select-level electrically conductive layers between two rows of memory opening fill structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure may comprise a low-k dielectric material or an air gap.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, an array of memory opening fill structures located within an array of memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, and a drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through drain-select-level electrically conductive layers between two rows of memory opening fill structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure may comprise a low-k dielectric material or an air gap.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, memory opening fill structures located within a respective one of the memory openings, and at least one drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through at least a topmost electrically conductive layer among the electrically conductive layers. The at least one drain-select-level isolation structure may include wiggles and cut through upper portions of at least some of the memory opening fill structures, or may include a vertically-extending dielectric material portion and laterally-protruding dielectric material portions adjoined to the vertically-extending dielectric material portion and laterally protruding into lateral recesses located adjacent to the at least the topmost electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate containing a shallow trench isolation structure that laterally surrounds a transistor active region, at least one line trench vertically extending into the semiconductor substrate, and a source region and a drain region located in the transistor active region. A contoured channel region continuously extends from the source region to the drain region underneath the at least one line trench. A gate dielectric contacts all surfaces of the at least one line trench and extends over an entirety of the contoured channel region. A gate electrode containing at least one fin portion overlies the gate dielectric.

Abstract: A bonded assembly includes a first three-dimensional memory die containing a first alternating stack of first insulating layers and first electrically conductive layers and first memory structures located in the first alternating stack, a second three-dimensional memory die bonded to the first three-dimensional memory die, and containing a second alternating stack of second insulating layers and second electrically conductive layers, and second memory structures located in the second alternating stack. The first electrically conductive layers have different lateral extents along the first horizontal direction that decrease with a respective vertical distance from driver circuit devices, and the second electrically conductive layers have different lateral extents along the first horizontal direction that increase with the respective vertical distance from the driver circuit devices.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and an array of memory opening fill structures extending through the alternating stack, an array of drain-select-level assemblies overlying the alternating stack and having a same two-dimensional periodicity as the array of memory opening fill structures, a first strip electrode portion laterally surrounding a first set of multiple rows of drain-select-level assemblies within the array of drain-select-level assemblies, and a drain-select-level isolation strip including an isolation dielectric that contacts the first strip electrode portion and laterally spaced from the drain-select-level assemblies and extending between the first strip electrode portion and a second strip electrode portion.

Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor channel, a gate electrode, and a stack located between the semiconductor channel and the gate electrode. The stack includes, from one side to another, a first ferroelectric material portion, a second ferroelectric material portion, and a gate dielectric portion that contacts the semiconductor channel.

Abstract: At least a portion of a memory cell is formed over a first substrate and at least a portion of a steering element or word or bit line of the memory cell is formed over a second substrate. The at least a portion of the memory cell is bonded to at least a portion of a steering element or word or bit line. At least one of the first or second substrate may be removed after the bonding.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a first word-line region including a first alternating stack of first word lines and continuous insulating layers, first memory stack structures vertically extending through the first alternating stack, a second word-line region comprising a second alternating stack of second word lines and the continuous insulating layers, second memory stack structures vertically extending through the second alternating stack, plural dielectric separator structures located between the first word-line region and the second word-line region, and at least one bridge region located between the plural dielectric separator structures and between the between the first word-line region and the second word-line region. The continuous insulating layers extend through the at least one bridge region between the first alternating stack in the first word-line region and the second alternating stack in the second word-line region.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, an array of memory opening fill structures located within an array of memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, and a drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through drain-select-level electrically conductive layers between two rows of memory opening fill structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure may comprise a low-k dielectric material or an air gap.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, an array of memory opening fill structures located within an array of memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, and a drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through drain-select-level electrically conductive layers between two rows of memory opening fill structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure may comprise a low-k dielectric material or an air gap.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory opening fill structures including a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film, and support pillar structures including a respective dummy vertical semiconductor channel, a respective dummy memory film, and a vertical stack of dielectric spacer fins located at levels of the electrically conductive layers and interposed between the electrically conductive layers and the respective dummy memory film.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of word lines and at least one insulating layers or air gaps located over a substrate, a memory opening fill structure extending through the alternating stack. The memory opening fill structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. The word lines are thicker than the insulating layers or air gaps.