Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, an electrode structure including electrodes stacked on the substrate, an upper semiconductor pattern penetrating at least a portion of the electrode structure, and a lower semiconductor pattern between the substrate and the upper semiconductor pattern. The upper semiconductor pattern includes a gap-filling portion and a sidewall portion extending from the gap-filling portion in a direction away from the substrate, the lower semiconductor pattern includes a concave top surface, the gap-filling portion fills a region enclosed by the concave top surface, a top surface of the gap-filling portion has a rounded shape that is deformed toward the substrate, and a thickness of the sidewall portion is less than a thickness of the gap-filling portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a stack structure on a substrate, the stack structure including interlayer insulating layers and first gate electrodes alternately stacked on each other, a semiconductor layer in an opening penetrating through the stack structure, a first dielectric layer between the semiconductor layer and the stack structure, and a lower pattern closer to the substrate than to the first gate electrodes in the stack structure, the lower pattern including a first surface facing the first dielectric layer, and a second surface facing the stack structure, the second surface defining an acute angle with the first surface, wherein the first dielectric layer includes a first portion facing the stack structure, and a second portion facing the first surface of the lower pattern, the second portion having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first portion.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The three-dimensional semiconductor device comprises a substrate including first and second areas; first and second main separation patterns, disposed on the substrate and intersecting the first and second areas; gate electrodes disposed between the first and second main separation patterns and forming a stacked gate group, the gate electrodes sequentially stacked on the first area and extending in a direction from the first area to the second area; and at least one secondary separation pattern disposed on the second area, disposed between the first and second main separation patterns, and penetrating through the gate electrodes disposed on the second area. The gate electrodes include pad portions on the second area, and the pad portions are thicker than the gate electrodes disposed on the first area and in contact with the at least one secondary separation pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes insulating patterns and gate patterns alternately stacked on a substrate, a channel structure that intersects the insulating patterns and the gate patterns and connected to the substrate, a charge storage structure between the channel structure and the gate patterns, and a contact structure on the substrate at a side of the insulating patterns and the gate patterns. One of the gate patterns includes a first barrier pattern between a first insulating pattern of the insulating patterns and a second insulating pattern of the insulating patterns adjacent the first insulating pattern in a first direction perpendicular to a main surface of the substrate, the first barrier pattern defining a concave region between a first portion of the first barrier pattern extending along the first insulating pattern and a second portion extending along the second insulating pattern, and a metal pattern in the concave region.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device includes gate electrodes sequentially stacked on a substrate, a channel structure penetrating the gate electrodes and being connected to the substrate, an insulating gap-fill pattern provided within the channel structure and surrounded by the channel structure as viewed in a plan view, and a conductive pattern on the insulating gap-fill pattern. At least a portion of the insulating gap-fill pattern is received in the conductive pattern, and at least a portion of the conductive pattern is interposed between at least that portion of the insulating gap-fill pattern and the channel structure.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a lower layer structure on a substrate, the lower layer structure having different thicknesses on first and second regions of the substrate, the lower layer structure including an electrode layer at a top and an insulating layer thereunder, an etch stop layer on the lower layer structure, an upper layer structure on the etch stop layer, the etch stop layer having an etch selectivity to the upper and lower layer structures, first and second contact plugs filling first and second openings defined in the upper layer structure and the etch stop layer on the first and second regions, respectively, and contacting corresponding electrode layers of the lower layer structure, respectively, such that one of the first and second contact plugs downwardly extends further with respect to a bottom of the etch stop layer than the other one of the first and second contact plugs.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a plurality of conductive patterns and an insulation pattern. The plurality of conductive patterns may be formed on a substrate. The plurality of conductive patterns may be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. Each of the plurality of conductive patterns may have an extension portion and a step portion. The step portion may be disposed at an edge of the corresponding conductive pattern. The insulation pattern may be formed between the plurality of conductive patterns in the vertical direction. A lower surface and an upper surface of the step portion of each of the plurality of conductive patterns may be bent upwardly.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device includes gate electrodes sequentially stacked on a substrate, a channel structure penetrating the gate electrodes and being connected to the substrate, an insulating gap-fill pattern provided within the channel structure and surrounded by the channel structure as viewed in a plan view, and a conductive pattern on the insulating gap-fill pattern. At least a portion of the insulating gap-fill pattern is received in the conductive pattern, and at least a portion of the conductive pattern is interposed between at least that portion of the insulating gap-fill pattern and the channel structure.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a lower layer structure on a substrate, the lower layer structure having different thicknesses on first and second regions of the substrate, the lower layer structure including an electrode layer at a top and an insulating layer thereunder, an etch stop layer on the lower layer structure, an upper layer structure on the etch stop layer, the etch stop layer having an etch selectivity to the upper and lower layer structures, first and second contact plugs filling first and second openings defined in the upper layer structure and the etch stop layer on the first and second regions, respectively, and contacting corresponding electrode layers of the lower layer structure, respectively, such that one of the first and second contact plugs downwardly extends further with respect to a bottom of the etch stop layer than the other one of the first and second contact plugs.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device may include: a stacking structure including a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of gate electrodes alternately stacked on a substrate; a lower semiconductor pattern that protrudes from the top of the substrate; a vertical insulating pattern that extends in a vertical direction from the substrate and penetrates the stacking structure; and a vertical channel pattern on the inner surface of the vertical insulating pattern and contacting the lower semiconductor pattern, wherein an upper part of the lower semiconductor pattern includes a recess region including a curve-shaped profile, and in the recess region, the outer surface of a lower part of the vertical channel pattern contacts the lower semiconductor pattern along a curve of the recess region.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device may include: a stacking structure including a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of gate electrodes alternately stacked on a substrate; a lower semiconductor pattern that protrudes from the top of the substrate; a vertical insulating pattern that extends in a vertical direction from the substrate and penetrates the stacking structure; and a vertical channel pattern on the inner surface of the vertical insulating pattern and contacting the lower semiconductor pattern, wherein an upper part of the lower semiconductor pattern includes a recess region including a curve-shaped profile, and in the recess region, the outer surface of a lower part of the vertical channel pattern contacts the lower semiconductor pattern along a curve of the recess region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a stack structure on a substrate, the stack structure including interlayer insulating layers and first gate electrodes alternately stacked on each other, a semiconductor layer in an opening penetrating through the stack structure, a first dielectric layer between the semiconductor layer and the stack structure, and a lower pattern closer to the substrate than to the first gate electrodes in the stack structure, the lower pattern including a first surface facing the first dielectric layer, and a second surface facing the stack structure, the second surface defining an acute angle with the first surface, wherein the first dielectric layer includes a first portion facing the stack structure, and a second portion facing the first surface of the lower pattern, the second portion having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first portion.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a lower layer structure on a substrate, the lower layer structure having different thicknesses on first and second regions of the substrate, the lower layer structure including an electrode layer at a top and an insulating layer thereunder, an etch stop layer on the lower layer structure, an upper layer structure on the etch stop layer, the etch stop layer having an etch selectivity to the upper and lower layer structures, first and second contact plugs filling first and second openings defined in the upper layer structure and the etch stop layer on the first and second regions, respectively, and contacting corresponding electrode layers of the lower layer structure, respectively, such that one of the first and second contact plugs downwardly extends further with respect to a bottom of the etch stop layer than the other one of the first and second contact plugs.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a plurality of conductive patterns and an insulation pattern. The plurality of conductive patterns may be formed on a substrate. The plurality of conductive patterns may be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. Each of the plurality of conductive patterns may have an extension portion and a step portion. The step portion may be disposed at an edge of the corresponding conductive pattern. The insulation pattern may be formed between the plurality of conductive patterns in the vertical direction. A lower surface and an upper surface of the step portion of each of the plurality of conductive patterns may be bent upwardly.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, an electrode structure including electrodes stacked on the substrate, an upper semiconductor pattern penetrating at least a portion of the electrode structure, and a lower semiconductor pattern between the substrate and the upper semiconductor pattern. The upper semiconductor pattern includes a gap-filling portion and a sidewall portion extending from the gap-filling portion in a direction away from the substrate, the lower semiconductor pattern includes a concave top surface, the gap-filling portion fills a region enclosed by the concave top surface, a top surface of the gap-filling portion has a rounded shape that is deformed toward the substrate, and a thickness of the sidewall portion is less than a thickness of the gap-filling portion.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor device includes gate electrodes sequentially stacked on a substrate, a channel structure penetrating the gate electrodes and being connected to the substrate, an insulating gap-fill pattern provided within the channel structure and surrounded by the channel structure as viewed in a plan view, and a conductive pattern on the insulating gap-fill pattern. At least a portion of the insulating gap-fill pattern is received in the conductive pattern, and at least a portion of the conductive pattern is interposed between at least that portion of the insulating gap-fill pattern and the channel structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The device includes a plurality of gates vertically stacked on a top surface of a substrate with an epitaxial layer formed in the substrate, a vertical channel vertically penetrating the gates to be electrically connected to the epitaxial layer, and a memory layer provided between the vertical channel and the gates. The epitaxial layer has a top surface positioned at a level between a bottom surface of the lowermost one of the gates and the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is disclosed. The device may include a stack including gate electrodes stacked on a substrate in a vertical direction and insulating patterns interposed between the gate electrodes, vertical channels passing through the stack and connected to the substrate, a tunnel insulating layer enclosing each of the vertical channels, charge storing patterns provided between the tunnel insulating layer and the gate electrodes and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, blocking insulating patterns provided between the charge storing patterns and the gate electrodes and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and a bit line crossing the stack and connected to the vertical channels. The blocking insulating patterns may have a vertical thickness that is greater than that of the gate electrodes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a stack structure on a substrate, the stack structure including interlayer insulating layers and first gate electrodes alternately stacked on each other, a semiconductor layer in an opening penetrating through the stack structure, a first dielectric layer between the semiconductor layer and the stack structure, and a lower pattern closer to the substrate than to the first gate electrodes in the stack structure, the lower pattern including a first surface facing the first dielectric layer, and a second surface facing the stack structure, the second surface defining an acute angle with the first surface, wherein the first dielectric layer includes a first portion facing the stack structure, and a second portion facing the first surface of the lower pattern, the second portion having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first portion.

Abstract: A vertical memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of channels on the substrate and extending in a vertical direction with respect to a top surface of the substrate, a plurality of non-metal gate patterns surrounding the channels and being stacked on top of each other and spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction, and a plurality of metal gate patterns stacked on top of each other. The metal gate patterns are spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction. Each of the metal gate patterns surrounds a corresponding one of the non-metal gate patterns.