IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,477,736
Granted Patent B2
US 12,477,736 · App. 18/601,068 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device

Inventor: Ki Hong Lee (Icheon-si, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
H10B43/27H10B41/10H10B41/27H10B43/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,477,736
App. No.
18/601,068
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a gate stack with conductive layers and insulating layers that are stacked alternately with each other, a first channel pattern passing through the gate stack, a second channel pattern coupled to the first channel pattern, the second channel pattern protruding above a top surface of the gate stack, an insulating core formed in the first channel pattern, the insulating core extending into the second channel pattern, a gate liner with a first portion that surrounds a top surface of the gate stack and a second portion that surrounds a portion of a sidewall of the second channel pattern, and a barrier pattern coupled to the gate liner, the barrier pattern surrounding a remaining portion of the sidewall of the second channel pattern.

Claims (37)

1 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

forming a stacked structure with first material layers and second material layers that are stacked alternately with each other;

forming a preliminary channel structure with a first channel pattern that passes through the stacked structure and an insulating core with a first portion that is located in the first channel pattern and a second portion that is coupled to the first portion, the second portion protruding above a top surface of the stacked structure;

forming a channel structure that surrounds the insulating core, the channel structure including a second channel pattern that is coupled to the first channel pattern;

etching a portion of a side of the channel structure, wherein a width of a middle portion of the channel structure is narrower than a width of a lower portion of the channel structure;

forming a gate liner with a first portion that covers the top surface of the stacked structure and a second portion that surrounds the second channel pattern;

forming a gap-filling insulating layer on the gate liner; and

forming an isolation insulating layer that passes through the gap-filling insulating layer and the first portion of the gate liner,

wherein the second portion of the gate liner includes a lower portion continuously connected to the first portion of the gate liner, a middle portion connected to the lower portion and an upper portion connected to the middle portion, a width of the lower portion of the second portion of the gate liner and the upper portion of the second portion of the gate liner is wider than a width of the middle portion of the second portion of the gate liner.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the preliminary channel structure comprises:

forming a sacrificial structure on the stacked structure;

forming a first opening that passes through the sacrificial structure and the stacked structure;

forming a first channel layer in the first opening;

forming the insulating core in the first channel layer;

removing the sacrificial structure to expose the preliminary channel structure; and

forming the first channel pattern by etching the first channel layer.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the forming of the insulating core comprises:

forming an insulating core layer in the first channel layer;

forming a second opening by etching a portion of the insulating core layer;

forming an insulating spacer in the second opening; and

forming a channel pad in the insulating spacer.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising etching the second portion of the insulating core so that the second portion of the insulating core has a smaller width than the first portion of the insulating core.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a gate insulating liner that surrounds the top surface of the stacked structure and the second channel pattern before the forming of the gate liner.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the isolation insulating layer comprises:

forming a trench that passes through the first portion of the gate liner, the trench exposing the second portion of the gate liner; and

forming the isolation insulating layer in the trench.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forming a third opening between the second channel pattern and the gap-filling insulating layer by etching the gate liner; and

forming a barrier pattern in the third opening.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising replacing the first material layers with third material layers after the forming of the isolation insulating layer.

9 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

forming a stacked structure with first material layers and second material layers that are stacked alternately with each other;

forming a preliminary channel structure with a first channel pattern that passes through the stacked structure and an insulating core and a channel pad, the insulating core with a first portion that is located in the first channel pattern and a second portion that is coupled to the first portion, the second portion protruding above a top surface of the stacked structure, the channel pad located in the second portion of the insulating core;

forming a first recessed portion between the channel pad and the first portion of the insulating core by etching a sidewall of the second portion of the insulating core;

forming a second channel pattern with a second recessed portion corresponding to the first recessed portion, the second channel pattern coupled to the first channel pattern;

forming a gate insulating liner with a third recessed portion corresponding to the second recessed portion, the gate insulating liner extending the top surface of the stacked structure and a sidewall of the second channel pattern; and

forming a gate conductive liner with a fourth recessed portion corresponding to the third recessed portion, the gate conductive liner covering a surface of the gate insulating liner.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2024
From: LEE, KI HONG
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 066715/0062 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0008768 · Jan 21, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 17372128 · Jul 9, 2021
Related Publication 20240215247A1 · Jun 27, 2024
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