Abstract: In a method of a vertical memory device, insulation layers and sacrificial layers are alternately and repeatedly formed on a substrate. A hole is formed through the insulation layers and the sacrificial layers that expose a top surface of the substrate. Then, an interior portion of the hole may be enlarged. A semiconductor pattern is formed to partially fill the enlarged portion of the hole. A blocking layer, a charge storage layer and a tunnel insulation layer may be formed on a sidewall of the hole and the semiconductor pattern. Then, the tunnel insulation layer, the charge storage layer and the blocking layer are partially removed to expose a top surface of the semiconductor pattern. A channel is formed on the exposed top surface of the semiconductor pattern and the tunnel insulation layer. The sacrificial layers are replaced with gate electrodes.

Abstract: A memory device includes a gate structure, a contact plug, and a spacer. The gate structure includes first and second conductive layer patterns sequentially stacked on a substrate. The contact plug passes through the second conductive layer pattern, and a sidewall of the contact plug directly contacts at least a portion of the second conductive layer pattern. The spacer surrounds a portion of the sidewall of the contact plug and contacting the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of insulating layers vertically stacked on the substrate, a plurality of channels arranged in vertical openings formed through at least some of the plurality of insulating layers, and a plurality of portions alternatingly positioned with the plurality of insulating layers in the vertical direction. At least some of the portions are adjacent corresponding channels of the plurality of channels. Each of the portions includes a conductive barrier pattern formed on an inner wall of the portion, a filling layer pattern positioned in the portion on the conductive barrier pattern, and a gate electrode positioned in a remaining area of the portion not occupied by the conductive barrier or filling layer pattern.

Abstract: In a method of a vertical memory device, insulation layers and sacrificial layers are alternately and repeatedly formed on a substrate. A hole is formed through the insulation layers and the sacrificial layers that expose a top surface of the substrate. Then, an interior portion of the hole may be enlarged. A semiconductor pattern is formed to partially fill the enlarged portion of the hole. A blocking layer, a charge storage layer and a tunnel insulation layer may be formed on a sidewall of the hole and the semiconductor pattern. Then, the tunnel insulation layer, the charge storage layer and the blocking layer are partially removed to expose a top surface of the semiconductor pattern. A channel is formed on the exposed top surface of the semiconductor pattern and the tunnel insulation layer. The sacrificial layers are replaced with gate electrodes.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices including vertical channels and semiconductor devices formed using such methods are provided. The methods may include forming a stack including a plurality of insulating patterns alternating with a plurality of conductive patterns on an upper surface of a substrate and forming a hole through the stack. The hole may expose sidewalls of the plurality of insulating patterns and the plurality of conductive patterns. The sidewalls of the plurality of insulating patterns may be aligned along a first plane that is slanted with respect to the upper surface of the substrate, and midpoints of the respective sidewalls of the plurality of conductive patterns may be aligned along a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a conductive region, an insulating layer disposed on the substrate and including an opening exposing the conductive region, and a conductive layer buried within the opening and including a first region disposed on inner side walls of the opening and a second region disposed within the first region. The first region includes a plurality of first crystal grains and the second region includes a plurality of second crystal grains. The pluralities of first and second crystal grains are separated from each other at a boundary formed between the first and second regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of insulating layers vertically stacked on the substrate, a plurality of channels arranged in vertical openings formed through at least some of the plurality of insulating layers, and a plurality of portions alternatingly positioned with the plurality of insulating layers in the vertical direction. At least some of the portions are adjacent corresponding channels of the plurality of channels. Each of the portions includes a conductive barrier pattern formed on an inner wall of the portion, a filling layer pattern positioned in the portion on the conductive barrier pattern, and a gate electrode positioned in a remaining area of the portion not occupied by the conductive barrier or filling layer pattern.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices including vertical channels and semiconductor devices formed using such methods are provided. The methods may include forming a stack including a plurality of insulating patterns alternating with a plurality of conductive patterns on an upper surface of a substrate and forming a hole through the stack. The hole may expose sidewalls of the plurality of insulating patterns and the plurality of conductive patterns. The sidewalls of the plurality of insulating patterns may be aligned along a first plane that is slanted with respect to the upper surface of the substrate, and midpoints of the respective sidewalls of the plurality of conductive patterns may be aligned along a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device comprises active patterns arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate, electrodes arranged three-dimensionally between the active patterns, and memory regions arranged three-dimensionally at intersecting points defined by the active patterns and the electrodes. Each of the active patterns is used as a common current path for an electrical connection to two different memory regions that are formed at the same height from the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of insulating layers vertically stacked on the substrate, a plurality of channels arranged in vertical openings formed through at least some of the plurality of insulating layers, and a plurality of portions alternatingly positioned with the plurality of insulating layers in the vertical direction. At least some of the portions are adjacent corresponding channels of the plurality of channels. Each of the portions includes a conductive barrier pattern formed on an inner wall of the portion, a filling layer pattern positioned in the portion on the conductive barrier pattern, and a gate electrode positioned in a remaining area of the portion not occupied by the conductive barrier or filling layer pattern.

Abstract: A memory device includes a gate structure, a contact plug, and a spacer. The gate structure includes first and second conductive layer patterns sequentially stacked on a substrate. The contact plug passes through the second conductive layer pattern, and a sidewall of the contact plug directly contacts at least a portion of the second conductive layer pattern. The spacer surrounds a portion of the sidewall of the contact plug and contacting the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of insulating layers vertically stacked on the substrate, a plurality of channels arranged in vertical openings formed through at least some of the plurality of insulating layers, and a plurality of portions alternatingly positioned with the plurality of insulating layers in the vertical direction. At least some of the portions are adjacent corresponding channels of the plurality of channels. Each of the portions includes a conductive barrier pattern formed on an inner wall of the portion, a filling layer pattern positioned in the portion on the conductive barrier pattern, and a gate electrode positioned in a remaining area of the portion not occupied by the conductive barrier or filling layer pattern.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device and a method of making a vertical semiconductor device include a first semiconductor pattern formed on a substrate and a first gate structure formed on a sidewall of the first semiconductor pattern. A second semiconductor pattern is formed on the first semiconductor pattern. A plurality of insulating interlayer patterns is formed on sidewalls of the second semiconductor pattern. The insulating interlayer patterns are spaced apart from each other to define grooves between the insulating interlayer patterns. The plurality of second gate structures is disposed in the grooves, respectively.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, can be provided by forming a gate insulating layer and a gate conductive layer on a substrate that includes active regions that are defined by device isolation regions that include a carbon-containing silicon oxide layer. The gate conductive layer and the gate insulating layer can be sequentially etched to expose the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer. The carbon-containing silicon oxide layer can be wet-etched to recess a surface of the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer to below a surface of the substrate. Then, an interlayer insulating layer can be formed between the gate insulating layer and the gate conductive layer on the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer, where an air gap can be formed between the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer and the gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, can be provided by forming a gate insulating layer and a gate conductive layer on a substrate that includes active regions that are defined by device isolation regions that include a carbon-containing silicon oxide layer. The gate conductive layer and the gate insulating layer can be sequentially etched to expose the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer. The carbon-containing silicon oxide layer can be wet-etched to recess a surface of the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer to below a surface of the substrate. Then, an interlayer insulating layer can be formed between the gate insulating layer and the gate conductive layer on the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer, where an air gap can be formed between the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer and the gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of gate structures, a first insulating interlayer pattern, and a second insulation layer pattern. The substrate has an active region and a field region, each of the active region and the field region extends in a first direction, and the active region and the field region are alternately and repeatedly arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The gate structures are spaced apart from each other in the first direction, each of the gate structures extends in the second direction. The first insulation layer pattern is formed on a portion of a sidewall of each gate structure. The second insulation layer pattern covers the gate structures and the first insulation layer pattern, and has an air tunnel between the gate structures, the air tunnel extending in the second direction.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device and a method of making a vertical semiconductor device include a first semiconductor pattern formed on a substrate and a first gate structure formed on a sidewall of the first semiconductor pattern. A second semiconductor pattern is formed on the first semiconductor pattern. A plurality of insulating interlayer patterns is formed on sidewalls of the second semiconductor pattern. The insulating interlayer patterns are spaced apart from each other to define grooves between the insulating interlayer patterns. The plurality of second gate structures is disposed in the grooves, respectively.

Abstract: A stacked semiconductor device that is reliable by forming an insulating layer on a lower memory layer and by forming a single crystalline semiconductor in portions of the insulating layer. A method of manufacturing the stacked semiconductor device, including: providing a lower memory layer including a plurality of lower memory structures; forming an insulating layer on the lower memory layer; forming trenches by removing portions of the insulating layer; forming a preparatory semiconductor layer for filling the trenches; and forming a single crystalline semiconductor layer by phase-changing the preparatory semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device comprises active patterns arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate, electrodes arranged three-dimensionally between the active patterns, and memory regions arranged three-dimensionally at intersecting points defined by the active patterns and the electrodes. Each of the active patterns is used as a common current path for an electrical connection to two different memory regions that are formed at the same height from the substrate.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a tunneling insulation layer on the semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer on the tunneling insulation layer, an inter-electrode insulation layer on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the inter-electrode insulation layer. The inter-electrode insulation layer includes a high-k dielectric layer having a dielectric constant greater than that of a silicon nitride, and an interfacial layer between the charge storage layer and the high-k dielectric layer. The interfacial layer includes a silicon oxynitride layer.