Abstract: A memory device includes a memory die containing memory elements, a support die containing peripheral devices and bonded to the memory die, and an electrically conductive path between two of the peripheral devices which extends at least partially through the memory die. The electrically conductive path is electrically isolated from the memory elements.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory die containing memory elements, a support die containing peripheral devices and bonded to the memory die, and an electrically conductive path between two of the peripheral devices which extends at least partially through the memory die. The electrically conductive path is electrically isolated from the memory elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-section non-pillar staggered protected roadway for a deep inclined thick coal seam (DITCS) and a method for coal pillar filling between sections. The multi-section non-pillar staggered protected roadway includes a floor, a coal seam, an immediate roof, and a basic roof in a multi-section coal seam, where the floor is disposed below the coal seam, a hydraulic support is disposed in a section between the floor and the immediate roof; a return airway and a transportation roadway are respectively disposed on a left side and a right side of each section; the return airway and the transportation roadway in each section are communicated with each other through a working face; and non-pillar staggered layout is used for a return airway of a next section and a transportation roadway of a current section.

Abstract: A combination of an alternating stack and a memory opening fill structure is provided over a substrate. The alternating stack includes insulating layers and electrically conductive layers. The memory opening fill structure vertically extends through the alternating stack, and includes a memory film, a vertical semiconductor channel, and a core structure comprising a core material. A phase change material is employed for the core material. A volume expansion is induced in in the core material by performing an anneal process that induces a microstructural change within the core material. The volume expansion in the core material induces a lateral compressive strain and a vertical tensile strain within the vertical semiconductor channel. The vertical tensile strain enhances charge mobility in the vertical semiconductor channel, and increases the on-current of the vertical semiconductor channel.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes alternating stacks of electrically conductive strips and spacer strips located over a substrate and laterally spaced apart among one another by memory stack assemblies. The spacer strips may include air gap strips or insulating strips. Each of the memory stack assemblies includes two two-dimensional arrays of lateral protrusion regions. Each of the lateral protrusion regions comprises a respective curved charge storage element. The charge storage elements may be discrete elements located within a respective lateral protrusion region, or may be a portion of a charge storage material layer that extends vertically over multiple electrically conductive strips. Each of the memory stack assemblies may include two rows of vertical semiconductor channels that laterally overlie a respective vertical stack of charge storage elements.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes alternating stacks of electrically conductive strips and spacer strips located over a substrate and laterally spaced apart among one another by memory stack assemblies. The spacer strips may include air gap strips or insulating strips. Each of the memory stack assemblies includes two two-dimensional arrays of lateral protrusion regions. Each of the lateral protrusion regions comprises a respective curved charge storage element. The charge storage elements may be discrete elements located within a respective lateral protrusion region, or may be a portion of a charge storage material layer that extends vertically over multiple electrically conductive strips. Each of the memory stack assemblies may include two rows of vertical semiconductor channels that laterally overlie a respective vertical stack of charge storage elements.

Abstract: Electrical isolation between adjacent stripes of drain-select-level electrically conductive layers can be provided by forming a drain-select-level isolation structure between neighboring rows of memory stack structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure can partially cut through upper regions of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures. Vertical semiconductor channels of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures include a lower tubular segment and an upper semi-tubular segment that contact the drain-select-level isolation structure. Electrical current through drain select levels is limited to the semi-tubular segment of each vertical semiconductor channel. Alternatively, the drain-select-level isolation structure can be formed around the memory stack structures within the neighboring rows of memory stack structures.

Abstract: Electrical isolation between adjacent stripes of drain-select-level electrically conductive layers can be provided by forming a drain-select-level isolation structure between neighboring rows of memory stack structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure can partially cut through upper regions of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures. Vertical semiconductor channels of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures include a lower tubular segment and an upper semi-tubular segment that contact the drain-select-level isolation structure. Electrical current through drain select levels is limited to the semi-tubular segment of each vertical semiconductor channel. Alternatively, the drain-select-level isolation structure can be formed around the memory stack structures within the neighboring rows of memory stack structures.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes semiconductor devices located on a semiconductor substrate, lower interconnect level dielectric layers embedding lower interconnect structures, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers overlying the lower interconnect level dielectric layers and including stepped surfaces, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack, and contact via structures extending downward from the stepped surfaces through underlying portions of the alternating stack to the lower interconnect structures. Each of the contact via structures laterally contacts an electrically conductive layer located at the stepped surfaces, and provides electrical interconnection to an underlying semiconductor device. A top portion of each contact via structures contacts an electrically conductive layer, and is electrically isolated from other underlying electrically conductive layers.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and word-line-level electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and a drain-select-level electrically conductive layer located over the alternating stack. Memory stack structures extend through the alternating stack and the drain-select-level electrically conductive layer. Dielectric divider structures including a respective pair of straight sidewalls and drain-select-level isolation structures including a respective pair of sidewalls that include a respective set of concave vertical sidewall segments divide the drain-select-level electrically conductive layer into multiple strips. The drain-select-level electrically conductive layer and the drain-select-level isolation structures are formed by replacement of a drain-select-level sacrificial material layer with a conductive material and by replacement of drain-select-level sacrificial line structures with dielectric material portions.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and word-line-level electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and a drain-select-level electrically conductive layer located over the alternating stack. Memory stack structures extend through the alternating stack and the drain-select-level electrically conductive layer. Dielectric divider structures including a respective pair of straight sidewalls and drain-select-level isolation structures including a respective pair of sidewalls that include a respective set of concave vertical sidewall segments divide the drain-select-level electrically conductive layer into multiple strips. The drain-select-level electrically conductive layer and the drain-select-level isolation structures are formed by replacement of a drain-select-level sacrificial material layer with a conductive material and by replacement of drain-select-level sacrificial line structures with dielectric material portions.

Abstract: Non-volatile memory strings may include multiple selection devices for coupling memory cell devices to a bit line. Different programming operations may be used to program various individual selection devices in a non-volatile memory cells string. For example, a control circuit may set a threshold voltage of a particular selection device to a value greater than a threshold voltage of another selection device. In another example, the control circuit may program the selection device using an initial sense time. Subsequent to programming the selection device using the initial sense time, the control circuit may program the selection device using a different sense time that is shorter than the initial sense time.

Abstract: A three-dimensional non-volatile memory is provided with reduced programming variation across word lines. The gate lengths of word lines decrease from the top to the bottom of the memory hole. Increased programming speeds due to a narrow memory hole are offset by a smaller gate length at corresponding positions. A blocking dielectric thickness may also be varied, independently or in combination with a variable word line thickness. The blocking dielectric is formed with a horizontal thickness that is larger at regions adjacent to the lower word line layers and smaller at regions adjacent to the upper word line layers. The larger thickness at the lower word line layers reduces the programming speed in the memory hole for the lower word lines relative to the upper word lines. A variance in programming speed resulting from differences in memory hole diameter may be offset by a corresponding variance in blocking dielectric thickness.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and word-line-level electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and a drain-select-level electrically conductive layer located over the alternating stack. Memory stack structures extend through the alternating stack and the drain-select-level electrically conductive layer. Dielectric divider structures including a respective pair of straight sidewalls and drain-select-level isolation structures including a respective pair of sidewalls that include a respective set of concave vertical sidewall segments divide the drain-select-level electrically conductive layer into multiple strips. The drain-select-level electrically conductive layer and the drain-select-level isolation structures are formed by replacement of a drain-select-level sacrificial material layer with a conductive material and by replacement of drain-select-level sacrificial line structures with dielectric material portions.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate. Memory stack structures are located in a memory array region, each of which includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel. Contact via structures located in the terrace region and contact a respective one of the electrically conductive layers. Each of the electrically conductive layers has a respective first thickness throughout the memory array region and includes a contact portion having a respective second thickness that is greater than the respective first thickness within a terrace region. The greater thickness of the contact portion prevents an etch-through during formation of contact via cavities for forming the contact via structures.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate. Memory stack structures are located in a memory array region, each of which includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel. Contact via structures located in the terrace region and contact a respective one of the electrically conductive layers. Each of the electrically conductive layers has a respective first thickness throughout the memory array region and includes a contact portion having a respective second thickness that is greater than the respective first thickness within a terrace region. The greater thickness of the contact portion prevents an etch-through during formation of contact via cavities for forming the contact via structures.

Abstract: A strap level sacrificial layer and an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers are formed over a substrate. An array of memory stack structures is formed through the alternating stack and the strap level sacrificial layer. Each memory film in the memory stack structures includes a metal oxide blocking dielectric. After formation of a source cavity by removal of the strap level sacrificial layer, an atomic layer etch process can be employed to remove portions of the metal oxide blocking dielectrics at the level of the source cavity. Outer sidewalls of semiconductor channels in the memory stack structures are exposed by additional etch processes, and a source strap layer is selectively deposited in the source cavity in contact with the semiconductor channel. If the spacer material layers are sacrificial material layers, all volumes of the sacrificial material layers can be replaced with the electrically conductive layers.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes alternating stacks of insulating strips and electrically conductive strips located over a substrate and laterally spaced apart among one another by vertically undulating trenches. The vertically undulating trenches have a greater lateral extent at levels of the electrically conductive strips than at levels of the insulating strips. An interlaced two-dimensional array of memory stack assemblies and dielectric pillar structures are located in the vertically undulating trenches. Each memory stack assembly includes a vertical semiconductor channel and a pair of memory films including a respective pair of convex outer sidewalls that contact, or are spaced by a uniform distance from, concave sidewalls of the electrically conductive strips.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device can be formed by first forming an alternating stack of insulating layers and stack level spacer material layers over a substrate. The stack level spacer material layers can be formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, stack level electrically conductive layers. A bottommost insulating spacer layer is formed with recesses that form grooves that are laterally spaced apart. Drain select level electrically conductive layers are formed over protruding portions and within the grooves of the bottommost insulating spacer layer by anisotropic deposition and isotropic etch back of a conductive material. Additional insulating spacer layers may be formed by anisotropic deposition of an insulating material. Additional drain select level electrically conductive layers can be formed by anisotropic deposition and isotropic etch back of additional conductive material.

Abstract: A method of operating a three-dimensional memory device includes applying a target string bias voltage to a selected drain select gate electrode which partially surrounds a row of memory stack structures that directly contact a drain select isolation structure, and applying a neighboring string bias voltage that has a greater magnitude than the target string bias voltage to an unselected drain select gate electrode that contacts the drain select level isolation structure.