IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,388,037
Granted Patent B2
US 12,388,037 · App. 17/481,838 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Three-dimensional memory devices and methods for forming the same

Inventors: Yanhong Wang (Wuhan, CN); Wei Liu (Wuhan, CN); Liang Chen (Wuhan, CN); Zhiliang Xia (Wuhan, CN); Wenxi Zhou (Wuhan, CN); Kun Zhang (Wuhan, CN); Yuancheng Yang (Wuhan, CN)
Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
H01L24/08H01L24/80H01L25/0657H01L25/18H01L25/50H01L2224/08145H01L2224/80895H01L2224/80896H01L2924/1431H01L2924/14511
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,388,037
App. No.
17/481,838
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In certain aspects, a three-dimensional (3D) memory device includes a first semiconductor structure, a second semiconductor structure, and a bonding interface between the first and second semiconductor structures. The first semiconductor structure includes an array of NAND memory strings, a first peripheral circuit of the array of NAND memory strings including a first transistor, a polysilicon layer between the array of NAND memory strings and the first peripheral circuit, and a first semiconductor layer in contact with the first transistor. The polysilicon layer is in contact with sources of the array of NAND memory strings. The second semiconductor structure includes a second peripheral circuit of the array of NAND memory strings including a second transistor, and a second semiconductor layer in contact with the second transistor. The second semiconductor layer is between the bonding interface and the second peripheral circuit. The polysilicon layer is between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.

Claims (72)

1. A three-dimensional (3D) memory device, comprising:

a first semiconductor structure, comprising:

an array of NAND memory strings;

a first peripheral circuit of the array of NAND memory strings, the first peripheral circuit comprising a first transistor;

a polysilicon layer between the array of NAND memory strings and the first peripheral circuit, the polysilicon layer being in contact with sources of the array of NAND memory strings; and

a first semiconductor layer in contact with the first transistor;

a second semiconductor structure, comprising:

a second peripheral circuit of the array of NAND memory strings, the second peripheral circuit comprising a second transistor; and

a second semiconductor layer in contact with the second transistor; and

a bonding interface between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure,

wherein the second semiconductor layer is between the second peripheral circuit and the bonding interface;

the second semiconductor layer and the array of NAND memory strings are between the second peripheral circuit and the polysilicon layer;

the polysilicon layer is between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer;

the first transistor comprises a first gate dielectric;

the second transistor comprises a second gate dielectric; and

a thickness of the first gate dielectric is greater than a thickness of the second gate dielectric.

2. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first peripheral circuit is between the first semiconductor layer and the polysilicon layer.

3. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second semiconductor layers comprises single crystalline silicon.

4. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first semiconductor layer is greater than a thickness of the second semiconductor layer.

5. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the thicknesses of the first and second gate dielectrics is between 5-fold and 50-fold.

6. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein

the first semiconductor structure further comprises a third peripheral circuit of the array of NAND memory strings, the third peripheral circuit comprising a third transistor comprising a third gate dielectric; and

the second semiconductor structure further comprises a fourth peripheral circuit of the array of NAND memory strings, the fourth peripheral circuit comprising a fourth transistor comprising a fourth gate dielectric.

7. The 3D memory device of claim 6 , wherein the third and fourth gate dielectrics have a same thickness.

8. The 3D memory device of claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the third and fourth gate dielectrics is between the thicknesses of the first and second gate dielectrics.

9. The 3D memory device of claim 6 , wherein the third and fourth peripheral circuits comprise at least one of a page buffer circuit or a logic circuit.

10. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein

the first semiconductor structure further comprises a first interconnect layer between the polysilicon layer and the first peripheral circuit, the first interconnect layer comprising a first interconnect coupled to the first transistor; and

the second semiconductor structure further comprises a second interconnect layer such that the second peripheral circuit is between the bonding interface and the second interconnect layer, the second interconnect layer comprising a second interconnect coupled to the second transistor.

11. The 3D memory device of claim 10 , wherein the first interconnect comprises tungsten, and the second interconnect comprises copper.

12. The 3D memory device of claim 10 , wherein

the first semiconductor structure further comprises:

a third interconnect layer between the bonding interface and the array of NAND memory strings, the third interconnect layer comprising a third interconnect coupled to the array of NAND memory strings; and

a first contact through the polysilicon layer and coupling the third interconnect to the first interconnect; and

the second semiconductor structure further comprises a second contact through the second semiconductor layer and coupling the third interconnect to the second interconnect.

13. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein

the first semiconductor structure further comprises a first pad-out interconnect layer in contact with the first semiconductor layer; or

the second semiconductor structure further comprises a second pad-out interconnect layer above the second transistor.

14. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first peripheral circuit comprises a driving circuit, and the second peripheral circuit comprises an input/output (I/O) circuit.

15. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first voltage source coupled to the first peripheral circuit and configured to provide a first voltage to the first peripheral circuit; and

a second voltage source coupled to the second peripheral circuit and configured to provide a second voltage to the second peripheral circuit,

wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

16. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein

the first semiconductor structure further comprises a first bonding layer such that the array of NAND memory strings is between the first bonding layer and the polysilicon layer, the first bonding layer comprising a first bonding contact;

the second semiconductor structure further comprises a second bonding layer such that the second semiconductor layer is between the second bonding layer and the second peripheral circuit, the second bonding layer comprising a second bonding contact; and

the first bonding contact is in contact with the second bonding contact at the bonding interface.

17. The 3D memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first transistor is formed on the first semiconductor layer, and the second transistor is formed on the second semiconductor layer.

18. A three-dimensional (3D) memory device, comprising:

a first semiconductor structure, comprising:

NAND memory strings,

first transistors on a first semiconductor layer, and

a polysilicon layer between the NAND memory strings and the first transistors, the polysilicon layer functions as a common source plate of the NAND memory strings; and

a second semiconductor structure, comprising second transistors on a second semiconductor layer,

wherein the first semiconductor structure is bonded with the second semiconductor structure,

the second semiconductor layer is between the second transistors and the NAND memory strings,

the second semiconductor layer and the NAND memory strings are between the second transistors and the polysilicon layer,

the polysilicon layer is between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer,

each first transistor comprises a first gate dielectric,

each second transistor comprises a second gate dielectric, and

a thickness of the first gate dielectric is greater than a thickness of the second gate dielectric.

19. A three-dimensional (3D) memory device, comprising:

NAND memory strings on a polysilicon layer, the polysilicon layer functioning as a common source plate of the NAND memory strings;

a first peripheral circuit of the NAND memory strings, comprising a first transistor on a first semiconductor layer;

a second peripheral circuit of the NAND memory strings, comprising a second transistor on a second semiconductor layer; and

a contact structure penetrating the polysilicon layer and the second semiconductor layer and coupled between the first transistor and the second transistor,

wherein the NAND memory strings are between the first peripheral circuit and the second peripheral circuit,

the second semiconductor layer is between the second peripheral circuit and the NAND memory strings,

the second semiconductor layer and the NAND memory strings are between the second peripheral circuit and the polysilicon layer,

the first transistor comprises a first gate dielectric,

the second transistor comprises a second gate dielectric, and

a thickness of the first gate dielectric is greater than a thickness of the second gate dielectric.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2021
From: WANG, YANHONG; LIU, WEI; CHEN, LIANG; XIA, ZHILIANG; ZHOU, WENXI; ZHANG, KUN; YANG, YUANCHENG
To: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057575/0132 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021103411 · Jun 30, 2021
Related Publication 20230005861A1 · Jan 5, 2023
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