Self-aligned tubular electrode portions inside memory openings for drain select gate electrodes in a three-dimensional memory device
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional memory device comprising:
- an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate;
an insulating fill material layer and plate electrode portions located over the alternating stack;
memory openings vertically extending through the insulating fill material layer, the plate electrode portions, and the alternating stack, wherein the insulating fill material layer includes a drain select level isolation structure located between neighboring rows of memory openings, and wherein the drain select level isolation structure generally extends along a first horizontal direction; and
memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings, wherein each memory opening fill structure comprises a memory film, a vertical semiconductor channel laterally surrounded by the memory film, and a tubular electrode portion overlying the alternating stack and contacting a respective one of the plate electrode portions,wherein the plate electrode portions and the tubular electrode portions collectively constitute drain select gate electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Memory opening fill structures extend through an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers and a combination of an insulating fill material layer and plate electrode portions located over the alternating stack. Each memory opening fill structure includes a memory film, a vertical semiconductor channel laterally surrounded by the memory film, and a tubular electrode portion overlying the alternating stack and contacting a respective one of the plate electrode portions. The insulating fill material layer includes a drain select level isolation structure located between neighboring rows of memory opening fill structures. The plate electrode portions and the tubular electrode portions collectively constitute drain select gate electrodes. The tubular electrode portions are incorporated into a respective memory opening fill structure, and the drain select level isolation structure can be self-aligned to the memory opening fill structures.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional memory device comprising:
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an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate; an insulating fill material layer and plate electrode portions located over the alternating stack; memory openings vertically extending through the insulating fill material layer, the plate electrode portions, and the alternating stack, wherein the insulating fill material layer includes a drain select level isolation structure located between neighboring rows of memory openings, and wherein the drain select level isolation structure generally extends along a first horizontal direction; and memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings, wherein each memory opening fill structure comprises a memory film, a vertical semiconductor channel laterally surrounded by the memory film, and a tubular electrode portion overlying the alternating stack and contacting a respective one of the plate electrode portions, wherein the plate electrode portions and the tubular electrode portions collectively constitute drain select gate electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of forming a three-dimensional memory device, comprising:
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forming an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers over a substrate, wherein the spacer material layers are formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers; forming sacrificial matrices and an insulating fill material layer over the alternating stack; forming memory openings through the sacrificial matrices, the insulating fill material layer, and the alternating stack; forming tubular electrode portions in the memory openings; forming memory stack structures within each memory opening and on a respective one of the tubular electrode portions, wherein each memory stack structure comprises a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel; and replacing the sacrificial matrices with plate electrode portions, wherein each contiguous combination of a plate electrode portion and a set of tubular electrode portions constitutes a drain select gate electrode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification