IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,635,143
Granted Patent B2
US 12,635,143 · App. 18/152,585 · Granted May 19, 2026

Three-dimensional memory device and method

Inventors: Meng-Han Lin (Hsinchu, TW); Sai-Hooi Yeong (Zhubei City, TW); Chia-En Huang (Xinfeng Township, TW); Chi On Chui (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H10B51/20H01L23/5283H10D30/0415H10D30/701H10D64/689
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,635,143
App. No.
18/152,585
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an embodiment, a device includes a first gate structure over a substrate, the first gate structure including a first gate electrode over a first side of a first gate dielectric; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed over a second side of the first gate dielectric opposite the first side; a second gate structure disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second gate structure including a second gate electrode and a second gate dielectric, the second gate dielectric at least laterally surrounding the second gate electrode; and a semiconductor film disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and at least laterally surrounding the second gate structure, wherein at least one of the first gate dielectric or the second gate dielectric is a memory film.

Claims (38)

1 . A device, comprising:

a first gate structure over a substrate, the first gate structure comprising a first gate electrode over a first side of a first gate dielectric;

a first electrode disposed over a second side of the first gate dielectric opposite the first side;

a second electrode disposed over the second side of the first gate dielectric;

a second gate structure disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second gate structure comprising a second gate electrode and a second gate dielectric, the second gate dielectric at least laterally surrounding the second gate electrode; and

a semiconductor film disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and at least laterally surrounding the second gate structure,

wherein at least one of the first gate dielectric or the second gate dielectric is a memory film.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first gate electrode comprises a first portion between a second portion and a third portion, wherein the first portion has a thickness different than the second portion and the third portion.

3 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a first dielectric layer disposed below the second portion of the first gate electrode and between the first portion of the first gate electrode and the first gate dielectric.

4 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a second dielectric layer disposed over the second portion of the first gate electrode and between the first portion of the first gate electrode and the first gate dielectric.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the second gate dielectric extends below the second gate electrode.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor film extends below the second gate structure.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are formed of different materials.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is electrically coupled to a bit line, and the second electrode is electrically coupled to a source line.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the memory film is a ferroelectric film.

10 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric spacer disposed between the first gate electrode and the first gate dielectric.

11 . A device, comprising:

a first gate dielectric extending in a first direction;

a word line disposed over a first side of the first gate dielectric in a second direction and extending in the first direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;

a first electrode disposed over a second side of the first gate dielectric opposite the word line in the second direction, the first electrode being part of or electrically coupled to a first bit line;

a second electrode disposed over the second side of the first gate dielectric, the second electrode being part of or electrically coupled to a first source line;

a semiconductor film disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a first gate structure disposed over a portion of the semiconductor film in the first direction such that the portion of the semiconductor film is sandwiched by the first gate dielectric and the first gate structure, wherein top surfaces of the word line and the first gate structure are level with each other.

12 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a third electrode, a fourth electrode, and a second gate structure disposed over a side of the second electrode opposite the first gate structure in the first direction, the third electrode being part of or electrically coupled to a second bit line, the fourth electrode being part of or electrically coupled to a second source line.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the word line comprises a first portion sandwiched between a second portion and a third portion, each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion extending along the first gate dielectric in the first direction, the first portion having a thickness different than the second portion and the third portion.

14 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a first dielectric layer disposed below the second portion of the word line and a second dielectric layer disposed over the second portion of the word line, each of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer extending along the first portion of the word line in the first direction and intersecting the third electrode and the fourth electrode.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein top surfaces of the second dielectric layer and the word line are level with each other.

16 . A device, comprising:

a first gate electrode extending in a vertical direction;

a first gate dielectric layer surrounding the first gate electrode in a plan view;

a semiconductor film surrounding the first gate dielectric layer in the plan view;

a first source/drain electrode on a first side of the first gate electrode and a second source/drain electrode on a second side of the first gate electrode in a first direction in the plan view;

a second gate dielectric layer extending along a first side of the first source/drain electrode and a first side of the second source/drain electrode in a second direction in the plan view, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction; and

a second gate electrode extending along the second gate dielectric layer in a horizontal direction.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the second gate dielectric layer extends along a bottom of the first source/drain electrode and a bottom of the second source/drain electrode.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the semiconductor film extends between a bottom of the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the second gate electrode includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein the first portion extends vertically, wherein the second portion and the third portion extends horizontally from opposing sides of the first portion, wherein the second portion contacts the second gate dielectric layer.

20 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising an interconnect structure, wherein the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are over the interconnect structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2023
From: LIN, MENG-HAN; YEONG, SAI-HOOI; HUANG, CHIA-EN; CHUI, CHI ON
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063829/0075 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63409126 · Sep 22, 2022
Provisional Application 63367827 · Jul 7, 2022
Related Publication 20240015976A1 · Jan 11, 2024
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