Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor memory device includes an electrode structure including electrodes vertically stacked on a semiconductor layer, a vertical semiconductor pattern penetrating the electrode structure and connected to the semiconductor layer, and a vertical insulating pattern between the electrode structure and the vertical semiconductor pattern. The vertical insulating pattern includes a sidewall portion on a sidewall of the electrode structure, and a protrusion extending from the sidewall portion along a portion of a top surface of the semiconductor layer. The vertical semiconductor pattern includes a vertical channel portion having a first thickness and extending along the sidewall portion of the vertical insulating pattern, and a contact portion extending from the vertical channel portion and conformally along the protrusion of the vertical insulating pattern and the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The contact portion has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: A three-dimensional semiconductor memory device is disclosed. The device may include a first source conductive pattern comprising a polycrystalline material including first crystal grains on a substrate, the substrate may comprising a polycrystalline material including second crystal grains, a grain size of the first crystal grains being smaller than a grain size of the second crystal grains, a stack including a plurality of gate electrodes, the plurality of gates stacked on the first source conductive pattern, and a vertical channel portion penetrating the stack and the first source conductive pattern, and the vertical channel portion being in contact with a side surface of the first source conductive pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The method includes sequentially forming a sacrificial pattern and a source conductive layer on a substrate, forming a mold structure including a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of sacrificial layers on the source conductive layer; forming a plurality of vertical structures that penetrate the mold structure, forming a trench that penetrates the mold structure, forming a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the trench, removing the sacrificial pattern to form a horizontal recess region; removing the sacrificial spacer, and forming a source conductive pattern that fills the horizontal recess 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: A vertical semiconductor device may include a stacked structure, a channel structure and a lower connection structure. The stacked structure may include insulation layers and gate electrodes alternately repeatedly stacked. The stacked structure may be spaced apart from an upper surface of a substrate. The channel structure may include a charge storage structure and a channel. The channel structure may pass through the stacked structure. The lower connection structure may be formed on the substrate. The lower connection structure may be electrically connected with the channel and the substrate. A sidewall of the lower connection structure may include a protrusion disposed at a central portion of the sidewall from the upper surface of the substrate in a vertical direction. The vertical semiconductor device may have a high reliability.

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 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 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: Disclosed are three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The method includes sequentially forming a sacrificial pattern and a source conductive layer on a substrate, forming a mold structure including a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of sacrificial layers on the source conductive layer; forming a plurality of vertical structures that penetrate the mold structure, forming a trench that penetrates the mold structure, forming a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the trench, removing the sacrificial pattern to form a horizontal recess region; removing the sacrificial spacer, and forming a source conductive pattern that fills the horizontal recess 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: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a stack structure comprising insulating patterns and electrode structures alternately stacked on a substrate, and a vertical channel structure vertically penetrating the stack structure. Each of the electrode structures includes a conductive pattern having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, a first etching prevention pattern on the first sidewall, and a second etching prevention pattern on the second sidewall.

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 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 three-dimensional semiconductor memory device includes an electrode structure including electrodes vertically stacked on a semiconductor layer, a vertical semiconductor pattern penetrating the electrode structure and connected to the semiconductor layer, and a vertical insulating pattern between the electrode structure and the vertical semiconductor pattern. The vertical insulating pattern includes a sidewall portion on a sidewall of the electrode structure, and a protrusion extending from the sidewall portion along a portion of a top surface of the semiconductor layer. The vertical semiconductor pattern includes a vertical channel portion having a first thickness and extending along the sidewall portion of the vertical insulating pattern, and a contact portion extending from the vertical channel portion and conformally along the protrusion of the vertical insulating pattern and the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The contact portion has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

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 has a plurality of gates vertically stacked on a top surface of a substrate, a vertical channel filling a vertical hole that extends vertically through the plurality of gates, and a memory layer in the vertical hole and surrounding the vertical channel. The vertical channel includes a bracket-shaped lower portion filling part of a recess in the top of the substrate and an upper portion extending vertically along the vertical hole and connected to the lower channel. At least one end of an interface between the lower and upper portions of the vertical channel is disposed at a level not than that of the top surface of the substrate.

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 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.