Embodiments described herein relate generally to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same.
A memory device having a three-dimensional structure has been proposed in which memory holes are made in a stacked body in which multiple electrode layers are stacked, and charge storage films and semiconductor films are provided to extend in the stacking direction of the stacked body in the memory holes. The memory device includes multiple memory cells connected in series between a drain-side selection transistor and a source-side transistor. To increase the density of the memory device, the diameter of the memory holes and the width of the electrode layers are shrunk. As the shrinking progresses, a threshold voltage Vth of the selection transistor decreases. When the threshold voltage Vth decreases, the selection transistor cannot be switched OFF, even when a gate voltage Vg of the selection transistor is 0 V. Therefore, the off-leakage current increases.
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a stacked body, a semiconductor body of a first conductivity type, a memory film, and a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type. The stacked body includes a plurality of electrode layers stacked with an insulator interposed. The semiconductor body of a first conductivity type extends through the stacked body in a stacking direction of the stacked body. The semiconductor body includes, along the stacking direction of the stacked body, a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The second portion is provided between the first portion and the third portion. The memory film is provided between the semiconductor body and at least a part of the electrode layers. The memory film includes a charge storage portion. The first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type is provided in the second portion. A concentration of a first conductivity type carrier of the first semiconductor layer is higher than a concentration of the first conductivity type carrier of the third portion. The second portion includes a channel of a selection transistor. The third portion includes a channel of a memory cell.
Embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The same components are marked with the same reference numerals in the drawings.
The semiconductor device of the embodiments is a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array.
In
The memory cell array 1 includes the multiple separation portions ST, multiple columns CL, and a stacked body 100 that includes a drain-side selection gate SGD, multiple word lines WL, and a source-side selection gate SGS. The source-side selection gate (the lower gate layer) SGS is provided above the substrate 10. The multiple word lines WL are provided above the source-side selection gate SGS. The drain-side selection gate (the upper gate layer) SGD is provided above the multiple word lines WL. The drain-side selection gate SGD, the multiple word lines WL, and the source-side selection gate SGS are multiple electrode layers. The number of stacks of electrode layers is arbitrary.
The multiple electrode layers (SGD, WL, and SGS) are stacked to be separated from each other. Insulators 40 are disposed between the multiple electrode layers (SGD, WL, and SGS). The insulators 40 may be insulators such as silicon oxide films, etc., or may be air gaps.
At least one of the selection gates SGD is used as a gate electrode of a drain-side selection transistor STD. At least one of the selection gates SGS is used as a gate electrode of a source-side selection transistor STS. Multiple memory cells MC are connected in series between the drain-side selection transistor STD and the source-side selection transistor STS. One of the word lines WL is used as a gate electrode of the memory cell MC.
The drain-side selection transistor STD shown in
The multiple separation portions ST are provided in the stacked body 100. The separation portions ST extend in the stacking direction (the Z-direction) and the X-direction through the stacked body 100. The separation portions ST divide the stacked body 100 into a plurality in the Y-direction. The regions separated by the separation portions ST are called “blocks.”
Source layers SL are disposed in the separation portions ST. The source layers SL are insulated from the stacked body 100 and spread, for example, in a plate configuration in the Z-direction and the X-direction. An upper layer interconnect 80 is disposed above the source layers SL. The upper layer interconnect 80 extends in the Y-direction. The upper layer interconnect 80 is electrically connected to the multiple source layers SL arranged along the Y-direction.
The multiple columns CL are provided in the stacked body 100 divided by the separation portions ST. The columns CL extend in the stacking direction (the Z-direction). For example, the columns CL are formed in circular columnar configurations or elliptical columnar configurations. For example, the columns CL are disposed in a staggered lattice configuration or a square lattice configuration in the memory cell array 1. The drain-side selection transistor STD, the multiple memory cells MC, and the source-side selection transistor STS are disposed in the column CL.
Multiple bit lines BL are disposed above the upper end portions of the columns CL. The multiple bit lines BL extend in the Y-direction. The upper end portion of the column CL is electrically connected to one of the bit lines BL via a contact Cb. One bit line is electrically connected to one column CL selected from each of the blocks.
The column CL is provided in the stacked body 100. Drain-side selection gates SGDa to SGDc, the multiple word lines WL, and the multiple insulators 40 are exposed from an inner wall of a memory hole (a hole) MH provided in the stacked body 100. Thereby, the drain-side selection gates SGDa to SGDc and the word lines WL are provided around the periphery of the column CL. A memory film 30 that includes a charge storage portion is provided on the inner wall of the memory hole MH. The configuration of the memory film 30 is, for example, a cylindrical configuration. A semiconductor body 20 is provided on the memory film 30. The configuration of the semiconductor body 20 is, for example, a circular tube that has a bottom. A core layer 50 is provided on the semiconductor body 20. The core layer 50 is insulative. The configuration of the core layer 50 is, for example, a columnar configuration. The memory film 30, the semiconductor body 20, and the core layer 50 are filled into the interior of the memory hole MH.
As shown in
The charge storage film 32 includes trap sites that trap charge; and the charge storage film 32 traps charge. The threshold of the memory cell MC changes due to the existence or absence of the trapped charge and the amount of the trapped charge. Thereby, the memory cell MC retains information. The tunneling insulating film 33 is a potential barrier between the charge storage film 32 and the semiconductor body 20. Tunneling of the charge in the tunneling insulating film 33 occurs when the charge is injected from the semiconductor body 20 into the charge storage film 32 (the programming operation) and when the charge is caused to diffuse from the charge storage film 32 into the semiconductor body 20 (the erasing operation). The blocking insulating film 31 suppresses the back-tunneling of the charge from the word line WL into the charge storage film 32 in the erasing operation. In
The semiconductor body 20 includes a cover film 20a and a channel film 20b. The cover film 20a is provided on the tunneling insulating film 33. The channel film 20b is provided on the cover film 20a. For example, the cover film 20a and the channel film 20b are semiconductors of a first conductivity type. In a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, the thickness of the cover film 20a is thinner than the thickness of the channel film 20b. The cover film 20a and the channel film 20b of the first embodiment are P-type polysilicon. The P-type polysilicon is, for example, P-type amorphous silicon that is crystallized. The cover film 20a and the channel film 20b include a P-type impurity as a carrier. The P-type impurity is, for example, boron. The concentration (the carrier concentration) of the boron of the semiconductor body 20 of the first embodiment is, for example, a finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less. The semiconductor body 20 includes a substantially uniform concentration of boron having, for example, the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less from the upper end portion to the lower end portion of the memory hole MH.
As shown in
The second portion 22 is set to be between the first portion 21 and the third portion 23. A first semiconductor layer 24 of the first conductivity type is provided in the second portion 22. The first semiconductor layer 24 is provided in a ring configuration in the second portion 22. The first semiconductor layer 24 of the first embodiment is a P-type diffusion layer. A P-type impurity is diffused in the P-type diffusion layer. The P-type impurity is, for example, boron. The first semiconductor layer 24 of the first embodiment includes the same impurity as the P-type impurity included in the semiconductor body 20. The concentration (the carrier concentration) of the boron of the first semiconductor layer 24 is higher than the concentration of the boron of the third portion 23. The concentration of the boron of the first semiconductor layer 24 of the first embodiment is, for example, not less than 1×1018 cm−3 and not more than 5×1019 cm−3 at the peak value.
An insulating layer 60 is provided on a region 25 of the semiconductor body 20. The region 25 is the region of the first portion 21 including the terminal portion of the first semiconductor layer 24. The insulating layer 60 is, for example, an insulator having silicon nitride as a major component.
The core layer 50 includes a first core layer 51 and a second core layer 52. The second core layer 52 is provided on the third portion 23. The first core layer 51 is provided on the upper end portion of the second core layer 52 and on the second portion 22 and insulating layer 60 along the stacking direction of the stacked body 100. The first core layer 51 and the second core layer 52 are insulative. The first core layer 51 and the second core layer 52 are, for example, insulators having silicon oxide as a major component.
A second semiconductor layer 70 of a second conductivity type is on the first core layer 51. The second semiconductor layer 70 is provided on the first portion 21, the insulating layer 60, and the first core layer 51. The second semiconductor layer 70 contacts the first portion 21. The second semiconductor layer 70 is N-type polysilicon. The N-type polysilicon may be N-type amorphous silicon that is crystallized. The second semiconductor layer 70 includes an N-type impurity. The N-type impurity is, for example, arsenic or phosphorus. A third semiconductor layer 71 of the second conductivity type is provided in the first portion 21. For example, the third semiconductor layer 71 is formed by diffusing the N-type impurity from the second semiconductor layer 70 into the first portion 21.
An insulating film 75 is provided on the upper end portion of the stacked body 100. A contact hole 76 is provided in the insulating film 75. The contact hole 76 reaches the second semiconductor layer 70 and the third semiconductor layer 71. The contact Cb is provided in the contact hole 76. The contact Cb is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer 70 and the third semiconductor layer 71.
As shown in
The first semiconductor layer 24 is provided in the second portion 22. Therefore, the acceptor concentration (the P-type carrier concentration) of the second portion 22 exceeds the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less. For example, the concentration of the first semiconductor layer 24 is not less than 1×1018 cm−3 and not more than 5×1019 cm−3 at the peak value. Thereby, the channel concentration of the selection transistor STD exceeds the acceptor concentration of the semiconductor body 20 and is not more than 5×1019 cm−3 and more than the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less. Therefore, the threshold voltage Vth of the selection transistor STD can be high compared to the case where the value of the channel concentration of the selection transistor STD is the same as the acceptor concentration of the semiconductor body 20. Accordingly, according to the first embodiment, the off-leakage current of the selection transistor STD can be reduced.
The first portion 21 includes an acceptor having a concentration of the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less. Due to the manufacturing of the first portion 21 of the first embodiment, a region 24a in which the acceptor has diffused from the first semiconductor layer 24 exists in the first portion 21. The region 24a exists from the lower end portion of the insulating layer 60 to a portion of the insulating layer 60 above the lower end portion. The method for manufacturing the region 24a is described below. The acceptor concentration of the region 24a is not more than 5×1019 cm−3 and not less than the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less.
The third portion 23 includes an acceptor having a concentration of the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less. Due to the manufacturing of the third portion 23 of the first embodiment, a region 24b in which the acceptor has diffused from the first semiconductor layer 24 exists in the third portion 23 as well. The region 24b exists from the upper end portion of the second core layer 52 to a portion of the second core layer 52 below the upper end portion. The acceptor concentration of the region 24b is not more than 5×1019 cm−3 and not less than the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less.
In addition to the acceptor, the first portion 21 includes a donor (an N-type carrier), e.g., arsenic or phosphorus. The donor concentration (the N-type carrier concentration) of the first portion 21 exceeds the finite value that is 1×1017 cm−3 or less. Thereby, the third semiconductor layer 71 is provided in the first portion 21. The effective carrier concentration of the third semiconductor layer 71 can be expressed by
effective carrier concentration=donor concentration−acceptor concentration.
The acceptor concentration of the first portion 21 of the first embodiment is the acceptor concentration of the semiconductor body 20. For example, the acceptor concentration of the first portion 21 is low compared to the case where the first semiconductor layer 24 is provided in the entire first portion 21. Therefore, the third semiconductor layer 71 that has a high effective carrier concentration can be obtained in the first portion 21. The third semiconductor layer 71 is a drain of the selection transistor STD. Accordingly, according to the first embodiment, the selection transistor STD that has a low drain resistance can be obtained.
A P-N junction between the first semiconductor layer 24 and the third semiconductor layer 71 is provided in the first portion 21. In the first embodiment, the insulating layer 60 is provided between the P-N junction and the first core layer 51. In the first embodiment, the P-N junction does not directly contact the first core layer 51. Therefore, compared to the case where the insulating layer 60 on the first portion 21 is removed, the occurrence of sites in the first portion 21 such as crystal defects, etc., that cause a leakage current can be suppressed. The third semiconductor layer 71 is the drain of the selection transistor STD. The first semiconductor layer 24 is the channel of the selection transistor STD. Accordingly, according to the first embodiment, the leakage current that is generated from the P-N junction between the channel and the drain when the channel and the drain are in a reverse bias state can be reduced.
Thus, according to the first embodiment, the threshold voltage Vth of the selection transistor STD can be increased. Accordingly, the selection transistor STD having a small off-leakage current can be obtained.
Also, according to the first embodiment, the carrier concentration (the effective carrier concentration) of the drain of the selection transistor STD can be increased. Accordingly, the selection transistor STD having a low drain resistance can be obtained.
Further, according to the first embodiment, the occurrence of sites of the first portion 21 that cause a leakage current can be suppressed. Accordingly, the selection transistor STD that has a small leakage current from the P-N junction between the channel and the drain when the channel and the drain are in the reverse bias state can be obtained.
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Then, the semiconductor body 20 is formed on the memory film 30. As shown in
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For example, the semiconductor device of the first embodiment can be manufactured by such a manufacturing method.
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Further, in the second embodiment, the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 is thinner than a thickness t21 of the first portion 21 (t22<t21) in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the stacked body 100.
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For such a second embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the energy levels that trap charge in the channel (the second portion 22) of the selection transistor STD can be reduced. This is because the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 is thinner than the thickness t21 of the first portion 21 and the thickness t23 of the third portion 23. Therefore, compared to the first embodiment, for example, the off-leakage current that is generated via the energy levels can be reduced further.
Also, an off-leakage current is generated easily at a deep location of the channel distal to the selection gates SGDa to SGDc. This is because the potential from the selection gates SGDa to SGDc does not reach the deep location easily. The thickness t22 of the second portion 22 (the channel) of the second embodiment is thin compared to that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the potential of the selection gates SGDa to SGDc can reach the deep location of the channel. Accordingly, the off-leakage current that is generated at the deep location of the channel can be reduced.
Thus, according to the second embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the electrical characteristics, e.g., the off-leakage characteristics, of the selection transistor STD can be improved further.
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Thereafter, for example, the manufacturing method may be according to the manufacturing method described with reference to
For example, the semiconductor device of the second embodiment can be manufactured by such a manufacturing method.
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Thereafter, for example, it is sufficient for the method for manufacturing to be according to the manufacturing method described with reference to
For example, the semiconductor device of the third embodiment can be manufactured by such a manufacturing method.
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As in the fifth embodiment, the thickness t21 of the first portion 21 may be thinner than the thickness t23 of the third portion 23. In such a case, for example, the thickness t21 of the first portion 21 can be substantially equal to the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 (t21≈t22).
In the fifth embodiment as well, the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 is thinner than the thickness t23 of the third portion 23. Therefore, the energy levels that trap charge in the second portion 22 can be reduced compared to the first embodiment. Accordingly, compared to the first embodiment, the off-leakage current that is generated via the energy levels can be reduced.
Also, the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 (the channel) of the fifth embodiment is thin compared to that of the first embodiment. Accordingly, compared to the first embodiment, the off-leakage current that is generated at the deep location of the channel can be reduced.
According to the fifth embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the electrical characteristics, e.g., the off-leakage characteristics, of the selection transistor STD can be improved further.
As shown in
According to the sixth embodiment, the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 is thinner than the thickness t23 of the third portion 23. Therefore, compared to the case where the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 is substantially equal to the thickness t23 of the third portion 23, the energy levels that trap charge in the second portion 22 can be reduced. Accordingly, the off-leakage current that is generated via the energy levels can be reduced.
Also, the potential of the selection gates SGDa to SGDc reaches the deep location of the second portion 22 (the channel) because the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 is thinner than the thickness t23 of the third portion 23. Accordingly, the off-leakage current that is generated at the deep location of the channel can be reduced.
Further, the thickness t21 of the first portion 21 is thicker than the thickness t22 of the second portion 22 (t21>t22). Therefore, compared to the case where the thickness t21 is equal to the thickness t22 (t21=t22), excessive diffusion of the carrier, e.g., arsenic or phosphorus, from the second semiconductor layer 70 toward the second portion 22 of the semiconductor body 20 is suppressed. As a result, excessive overlap between the third semiconductor layer 71 and, for example, the drain-side selection gate SGDa of the uppermost layer is suppressed. The excessive overlap between the third semiconductor layer 71 and the selection gate SGDa causes the leakage current of the drain-side selection transistor STD to increase.
Accordingly, according to the embodiments in which the thickness t21 of the first portion 21 is thicker than the thickness t22 of the second portion (t21>t22), the leakage current of the selection transistor STD can be reduced further.
Thus, according to the embodiments, the increase of the off-leakage current generated in the selection transistor can be suppressed.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modification as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/213,849, filed on Sep. 3, 2015; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62213849 | Sep 2015 | US |