Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and a memory stack structure extending through the alternating stack. The memory stack structure includes a vertical semiconductor channel, a vertical stack of majority germanium layers each containing at least 51 atomic percent germanium, and a vertical stack of ferroelectric dielectric layers.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate and memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack. Each of the electrically conductive layers includes a stack of a compositionally graded diffusion barrier and a metal fill material portion, and the compositionally graded diffusion barrier includes a substantially amorphous region contacting the interface between the compositionally graded diffusion barrier and a substantially crystalline region that is spaced from the interface by the amorphous region. The substantially crystalline region effectively blocks atomic diffusion, and the amorphous region induces formation of large grains during deposition of the metal fill material portions.

Abstract: A memory device includes a first electrically conductive line laterally extending along a first horizontal direction, a memory pillar structure overlying and contacting the first electrically conductive line, the memory pillar structure includes a vertical stack of a ferroelectric material plate and a selector material plate, and a second electrically conductive line laterally extending along a second horizontal direction and overlying and contacting the memory pillar structure.

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 stack including a silicon oxide layer, a germanium-containing layer, and a III-V compound semiconductor layer is formed over a substrate. An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers is formed over the III-V compound semiconductor layer. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. Memory openings are formed through the alternating stack and into the III-V compound semiconductor layer. Memory opening fill structures including a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel are formed in the memory openings. The vertical semiconductor channels can include a III-V compound semiconductor channel material that is electrically connected to the III-V compound semiconductor layer. The substrate and at least a portion of the silicon oxide layer can be subsequently detached.

Abstract: A source-level sacrificial layer and an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers are formed over a substrate. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. Memory openings are formed through the alternating stack and the source-level sacrificial layer, and memory opening fill structures are formed. A source cavity is formed by removing the source-level sacrificial layer, and exposing an outer sidewall of each vertical semiconductor channel in the memory opening fill structures. A metal-containing layer is deposited on physically exposed surfaces of the vertical semiconductor channel and the vertical semiconductor channel is crystallized using metal-induced lateral crystallization. Alternatively or additionally, cylindrical metal-semiconductor alloy regions can be formed around the vertical semiconductor channels to reduce contact resistance. A source contact layer can be formed in the source cavity.

Abstract: A stack including a silicon oxide layer, a germanium-containing layer, and a III-V compound semiconductor layer is formed over a substrate. An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers is formed over the III-V compound semiconductor layer. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. Memory openings are formed through the alternating stack and into the III-V compound semiconductor layer. Memory opening fill structures including a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel are formed in the memory openings. The vertical semiconductor channels can include a III-V compound semiconductor channel material that is electrically connected to the III-V compound semiconductor layer. The substrate and at least a portion of the silicon oxide layer can be subsequently detached.

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 first semiconductor die includes first semiconductor devices located over a first substrate, first interconnect-level dielectric material layers embedding first metal interconnect structures and located on the first semiconductor devices, and a first pad-level dielectric layer located on the first interconnect-level dielectric material layers and embedding first bonding pads. Each of the first bonding pads includes a first proximal horizontal surface and at least one first distal horizontal surface that is more distal from the first substrate than the first proximal horizontal surface is from the first substrate and has a lesser total area than a total area of the first proximal horizontal surface. A second semiconductor die including second bonding pads that are embedded in a second pad-level dielectric layer can be bonded to a respective distal surface of the first bonding pads.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, and a memory stack structure vertically extending through the alternating stack. The memory stack structure includes a vertical semiconductor channel and a memory film. The vertical semiconductor channel can include a III-V compound semiconductor channel material. A III-V compound substrate semiconductor layer or a III-V compound semiconductor source region can be used to provide low-resistance electrical connection to a bottom end of the vertical semiconductor channel, and a drain region including a graded III-V compound semiconductor material can be used to provide low-resistance electrical connection to a top end of the vertical semiconductor channel.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, and a memory stack structure vertically extending through the alternating stack. The memory stack structure includes a vertical semiconductor channel and a memory film. The vertical semiconductor channel can include a III-V compound semiconductor channel material. A III-V compound substrate semiconductor layer or a III-V compound semiconductor source region can be used to provide low-resistance electrical connection to a bottom end of the vertical semiconductor channel, and a drain region including a graded III-V compound semiconductor material can be used to provide low-resistance electrical connection to a top end of the vertical semiconductor channel.

Abstract: Multiple bonded units are provided, each of which includes a respective front-side die and a backside die. The two dies in each bonded unit may be a memory die and a logic die configured to control operation of memory elements in the memory die. Alternatively, the two dies may be memory dies. The multiple bonded units can be attached such that front-side external bonding pads have physically exposed surfaces that face upward and backside external bonding pads of each bonded unit have physically exposed surfaces that face downward. A first set of bonding wires can connect a respective pair of front-side external bonding pads, and a second set of bonding wires can connect a respective pair of backside external bonding pads.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, and a memory stack structure vertically extending through the alternating stack. The memory stack structure includes a vertical semiconductor channel and a memory film. The vertical semiconductor channel can include a III-V compound semiconductor channel material. A III-V compound substrate semiconductor layer or a III-V compound semiconductor source region can be used to provide low-resistance electrical connection to a bottom end of the vertical semiconductor channel, and a drain region including a graded III-V compound semiconductor material can be used to provide low-resistance electrical connection to a top end of the vertical semiconductor channel.

Abstract: A memory opening or a line trench is formed through an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers. A memory opening fill structure or a memory stack assembly is formed, which includes a vertical stack of discrete intermediate metallic electrodes formed on sidewalls of the sacrificial material layers, a gate dielectric layer, and a vertical semiconductor channel. Backside recesses are formed by removing the sacrificial material layers selective to the insulating layers, and a combination of a ferroelectric dielectric layer and an electrically conductive layer within each of the backside recesses. The electrically conductive layer is laterally spaced from a respective one of the discrete intermediate metallic electrodes by the ferroelectric dielectric layer. Ferroelectric-metal-insulator memory elements are formed around the vertical semiconductor channel.

Abstract: 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 through the alternating stack, forming lateral recesses at levels of the sacrificial material layers around the memory opening, forming a vertical stack of discrete clam-shaped semiconductor liners in the lateral recesses, replacing the vertical stack of discrete clam-shaped semiconductor liners with a vertical stack of inner clam-shaped metallic liners, forming a vertical stack of discrete charge storage elements on the vertical sack of inner clam-shaped metallic liners, forming a tunneling dielectric layer and a vertical semiconductor channel over the vertical stack of discrete charge storage elements and the vertical stack of inner clam-shaped metallic liners, and replacing each of the sacrificial material layers with an electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A memory opening or a line trench is formed through an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers. A memory opening fill structure or a memory stack assembly is formed, which includes a vertical stack of discrete intermediate metallic electrodes formed on sidewalls of the sacrificial material layers, a gate dielectric layer, and a vertical semiconductor channel. Backside recesses are formed by removing the sacrificial material layers selective to the insulating layers, and a combination of a ferroelectric dielectric layer and an electrically conductive layer within each of the backside recesses. The electrically conductive layer is laterally spaced from a respective one of the discrete intermediate metallic electrodes by the ferroelectric dielectric layer. Ferroelectric-metal-insulator memory elements are formed around the vertical semiconductor channel.

Abstract: 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 through the alternating stack, forming lateral recesses at levels of the sacrificial material layers around the memory opening, forming a vertical stack of discrete clam-shaped semiconductor liners in the lateral recesses, replacing the vertical stack of discrete clam-shaped semiconductor liners with a vertical stack of inner clam-shaped metallic liners, forming a vertical stack of discrete charge storage elements on the vertical sack of inner clam-shaped metallic liners, forming a tunneling dielectric layer and a vertical semiconductor channel over the vertical stack of discrete charge storage elements and the vertical stack of inner clam-shaped metallic liners, and replacing each of the sacrificial material layers with an electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A bonded assembly includes a first semiconductor die containing a first substrate, first semiconductor devices, and first bonding pads that are electrically connected to a respective node of the first semiconductor devices, a second semiconductor die containing a second substrate, second semiconductor devices, and second bonding pads that are electrically connected to a respective node of the second semiconductor devices and bonded to a respective one of the first bonding pads, and at least one metal-organic framework (MOF) dielectric layer that laterally surrounds at least one of the first bonding pads and the second bonding pads.

Abstract: An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers can be formed over a substrate. The spacer material layers may be formed as, or may be subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. A memory opening can be formed through the alternating stack, and annular lateral recesses are formed at levels of the insulating layers. Metal portions are formed in the annular lateral recesses, and a semiconductor material layer is deposited over the metal portions. Metal-semiconductor alloy portions are formed by performing an anneal process, and are subsequently removed by performing a selective etch process. Remaining portions of the semiconductor material layer include a vertical stack of semiconductor material portions, which may be optionally converted, partly or fully, into silicon nitride material portions. The semiconductor material portions and/or the silicon nitride material portions can be employed as discrete charge storage elements.

Abstract: An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers can be formed over a substrate. The spacer material layers may be formed as, or may be subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. A memory opening can be formed through the alternating stack, and annular lateral recesses are formed at levels of the insulating layers. Metal portions are formed in the annular lateral recesses, and a semiconductor material layer is deposited over the metal portions. Metal-semiconductor alloy portions are formed by performing an anneal process, and are subsequently removed by performing a selective etch process. Remaining portions of the semiconductor material layer include a vertical stack of semiconductor material portions, which may be optionally converted, partly or fully, into silicon nitride material portions. The semiconductor material portions and/or the silicon nitride material portions can be employed as discrete charge storage elements.