Embodiments described herein relate generally to a semiconductor memory device and a method for manufacturing the same.
In the related art, in accordance with progresses for high-integration of semiconductor memory devices, a stacked semiconductor memory device has been proposed. Since delicate processing is required for lithography and etching in manufacturing the stacked semiconductor memory device, a vertical channel type requiring lithography and etching only once at critical dimension has become a main stream.
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor pillar extending in a first direction, a first insulating film provided on a side surface of the semiconductor pillar, a second insulating film provided on a side surface of the first insulating film, a third insulating film provided apart from the second insulating film on a side surface of a second direction opposite to the first direction of the first insulating film, a first portion of a first electrode provided in a space between the second insulating film and the third insulating film so as to be in contact with an outer surface of the first insulating film and a surface of the second direction side of the second insulating film, a second portion of the first electrode provided in a space between the second insulating film and the third insulating film so as to be in contact with an outer surface of the first insulating film and a surface of the first direction side of the third insulating film, a third portion of the first electrode provided in a space between the first portion of the first electrode and the second portion of the first electrode so as to be in contact with the first insulating film, the first portion of the first electrode and the second portion of the first electrode, a forth insulating film provided on an outer surface of the first electrode, a surface of the second direction side of the second insulating film and a surface of the first direction side of the third insulating film between the second insulating film and the third insulating film, and a second electrode provided on an outer surface of the forth insulating film between the second insulating film and the third insulating film. An outer diameter of the first portion of the first electrode is larger than an outer diameter of the third portion of the first electrode, an outer diameter of the second portion of the first electrode is larger than an outer diameter of the third portion of the first electrode.
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes forming of a first material layer performed by causing a first material to be accumulated, forming of a second material layer performed by causing a second material to be accumulated on the first material layer, forming of a third material layer performed by causing a third material to be accumulated on the second material layer. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes forming of a memory hole performed by penetrating a stacked body composed of the first material layer, the second material layer, and the third material layer in a stacking direction. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes removing of a portion of the second material layer on the memory hole side through the memory hole, causing a first conductive material to be accumulated in the memory hole. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes forming of a first portion of a first electrode made of the first conductive material in a space after the second material layer is removed, by performing etch-back on the first conductive material. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes removing a portion of each of the first material layer and the third material layer on the memory hole side through the memory hole, causing of a second conductive material to be accumulated in the memory hole. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes forming of a second portion of the first electrode made of the second conductive material in a first direction side space after the first material layer and the third material layer are removed, forming of a third portion of the first electrode made of the second conductive material in a second direction side being opposite to the first direction side space after the first material layer and the third material layer are removed, by performing etch-back on the second material layer. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes forming of a first insulating film on side surfaces of the first electrode, forming of a slit penetrating the stacked body in the stacking direction on sides of the memory hole. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes removing of the first material layer, the second material layer, and the third material layer through the slit. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device also includes forming of a second insulating film on side surfaces of the first electrode through the slit and forming of a second electrode on a front surface of the second insulating film through the slit.
Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the invention will be described.
Firstly, a configuration of a semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment will be described.
The semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment is a FG (Floating Gate) type stacked NAND flash memory.
As shown in
Hereinafter, for convenience of description, an XYZ rectangular coordinate system is employed in the specification. In other words, in
An insulating film 14, a selector gate electrode SG1, a stacked body 13, an interlayer insulating film 36, selector gate electrodes SG2, interlayer insulating films 37, an interlayer insulating film 38 and bit lines BL are provided on the well layer 11 along the Z-direction from below. The stacked body 13 is formed of interlayer insulating films 12 and linear structure bodies 16 which are alternately stacked. The selector gate electrodes SG2 are separated in the X-direction and extend in the Y-direction. The interlayer insulating films 37 are embedded in gaps between the selector gate electrodes SG2.
Memory holes MH are formed on the well layer 11 so as to penetrate a stacked body within a range from the selector gate electrodes SG2 and the well layer 11 in the Z-direction. Tunnel insulating films 121 are provided on side surfaces of the memory hole MH. A silicon pillar 122 is provided on a central axis side from the tunnel insulating films 121.
Contact plugs CP embedded in the interlayer insulating film 38 are provided on the silicon pillars 122. The bit lines BL separated in the Y-direction and extending in the X-direction are provided on the contact plugs CP.
As shown in
The floating gate electrode 113 is provided on a side surface of the tunnel insulating film 121, and of which a cross section has a quadrangular ring shape. The floating gate electrode 111 is provided on the side surface of the tunnel insulating film 121, and of which a cross section has a quadrangular ring shape. The floating gate electrode 112 is provided on the side surface of the tunnel insulating film 121, and of which a cross section has a quadrangular ring shape. The floating gate electrode 111, the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 collectively form a floating gate electrode FG.
The floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 having the same shape are mutually distal, and the floating gate electrode 111 is provided therebetween. Since an outer diameter of the floating gate electrode 111 is smaller than outer diameters of the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113, a ring-shaped concave portion is formed on an outer side surface of the floating gate electrode FG, and the control gate electrode 117 enters the concave portion.
The control gate electrode 117 has a flat shape parallel to an X-Y plane, and a hole is open in the control gate electrode 117 so as to accommodate the floating gate electrode FG. A convex portion is formed inside the hole toward a central axis P of the silicon pillar 122.
The inter-electrode insulating film 116 is provided between the structure body composed of the floating gate electrode 112, the floating gate electrode 113, the floating gate electrode 111 and the insulating film 12, and the control gate electrode 117.
A length in the Z-direction of a contact portion between the tunnel insulating film 121 and the floating gate electrode FG is referred to as a channel width D. In the semiconductor memory device 1 according to the embodiment, since the tunnel insulating film 121 and the inter-electrode insulating film 116 are not in contact with each other, the channel width D can be widened.
The floating gate electrode FG is formed of silicon (Si) in which phosphorus (p) or boron (B) is doped, for example. The interlayer insulating film 12 is formed of silicon oxide (SiO2), for example. The inter-electrode insulating film 116 is formed of a single layer film of silicon oxide; a stacked film made of silicon oxide and silicon nitride (SiN); a single layer film made of a high dielectric constant insulating material; or a stacked film made of a high dielectric constant insulating material, silicon oxide and silicon nitride, for example.
The high dielectric constant insulating material is oxide or oxynitride of one or more types of metal selected from a group composed of zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), lanthanum (La) and aluminum (Al), for example.
Electrical potentials of the silicon pillar 122 and the control gate electrode 117 are individually controllable by peripheral circuits (not shown). Accordingly, in the semiconductor memory device 1, electrical charges can be accumulated in an arbitrary floating gate electrode FG by controlling the electrical potentials of the silicon pillar 122 and the control gate electrode 117 and moving electrons between the silicon pillar 122 and the floating gate electrode FG. As a result, data can be stored in the floating gate electrode FG. In other words, in the semiconductor memory device 1, each floating gate electrode FG is configured to have a memory cell.
Subsequently, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment will be described.
As shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, effects of the embodiment will be described.
In the semiconductor memory device 1 according to the embodiment, as shown in
As a result, cut-off characteristics of the semiconductor memory device 1 can be favorably maintained. In addition, since there is no need to increase the thickness of the linear structure body 16 in order to widen the channel width D, a small load is applied on processing.
In addition, work function of the floating gate electrode 112 may be greater than work function of the floating gate electrode 111. In that case, concentration of an electric field in a portion C shown in
Moreover, a material different from the materials of the floating gate electrodes 112 and 113 may be used for the floating gate electrode 111. In that case, an electrostatic capacity of the control gate electrode 117 and the floating gate electrode FG through the inter-electrode insulating film 116 can be ensured and a coupling ratio therebetween can be ensured by changing a thickness of the film of the floating gate electrode FG.
Subsequently, a comparison example of the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in
Subsequently, a variation of the first embodiment will be described.
The method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation has a distinctive difference compared to the first embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed after the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed.
In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation, the process is similar to that of the first embodiment until the memory hole MH is formed. In other words, the process shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, silicon in which phosphorus or boron is doped is accumulated in the memory hole MH by the LP-CVD method, for example, thereby forming the conductive member 110. The conductive member 110 also enters the inside of the concave portion 106 through the memory hole MH.
Thereafter, RIE is performed to remove the conductive member 110 in the memory hole MH but the conductive member 110 remains in the concave portion 106, thereby forming the floating gate electrode 111 in a portion inside the insulating film 102 on the memory hole MH side. The floating gate electrode 111 is annularly formed so as to surround the memory hole MH.
Subsequently, the process shown in
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the variation other than those described above are similar to those of the first embodiment.
Subsequently, a semiconductor memory device according to a second embodiment will be described.
The method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment has distinctive differences of (a) to (c) compared to the first embodiment.
(a) A conductive film 142 made of silicon, for example, is utilized in place of the insulating film 102 in the linear structure body 16 before being processed.
(b) An insulating film 143 made of silicon oxide, for example, is utilized in place of the conductive film 103 in the linear structure body 16 before being processed.
(c) An insulating film 144 made of silicon oxide, for example, is utilized in place of the conductive film 104 in the linear structure body 16 before being processed.
In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment, the process is similar to the method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device 1 according to the first embodiment until the selector gate electrode SG1 is formed. In other words, the process shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, silicon in which phosphorus or boron is doped is accumulated on a side surface of the memory hole MH and in the concave portion 106 by the LP-CVD method, for example, thereby forming the conductive member 110.
Thereafter, RIE is performed to remove the conductive member 110 in the memory hole MH but the conductive member 110 remains in the concave portion 106, thereby forming the floating gate electrode 111 in the conductive film 142. The floating gate electrode 111 is annularly formed so as to surround the memory hole MH.
Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, silicon in which phosphorus or boron is doped is accumulated on a side surface of the memory hole MH, and in the concave portion 107 and the concave portion 108 by the LP-CVD method, for example, thereby forming a conductive member 119.
Thereafter, RIE is performed to remove the conductive member 119 in the memory hole MH but the conductive member 119 remains in the concave portion 107 and the concave portion 108, thereby forming the floating gate electrode 112 in a portion inside the insulating film 143 on the memory hole MH side. In addition, the floating gate electrode 113 is formed in a portion inside the insulating film 144 on the memory hole MH side. The floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are annularly formed so as to surround the memory hole MH.
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, for example, the insulating film 143 and the insulating film 144 are removed through the rear surface slits 131 by using hot phosphoric acid as an etching solution. Thereafter, the conductive film 142 is similarly removed through the rear surface slits 131 by using a hot choline aqueous solution as an etching solution.
Subsequently, the process shown in
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the embodiment other than those described above are similar to those of the first embodiment.
Subsequently, a variation of the second embodiment will be described.
The method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation has a distinctive difference compared to the second embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed after the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed.
In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation, the process is similar to that of the second embodiment until the memory hole MH is formed. In other words, the process shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, silicon in which phosphorus or boron is doped is accumulated on a side surface of the memory hole MH, and in the concave portion 107 and the concave portion 108 by the LP-CVD method, for example, thereby forming a conductive member 119.
Thereafter, RIE is performed to remove the conductive member 119 in the memory hole MH but the conductive member 119 remains in the concave portion 107 and the concave portion 108, thereby forming the floating gate electrode 112 in a portion inside the insulating film 143 on the memory hole MH side. In addition, the floating gate electrode 113 is formed in a portion inside the insulating film 144 on the memory hole MH side. The floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are annularly formed so as to surround the memory hole MH.
Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, silicon in which phosphorus or boron is doped is accumulated on a side surface of the memory hole MH and in the concave portion 106 by the LP-CVD method, for example, thereby forming the conductive member 110.
Thereafter, RIE is performed to remove the conductive member 110 in the memory hole MH but the conductive member 110 remains in the concave portion 106, thereby forming the floating gate electrode 111 on the memory hole MH side in the conductive film 142. The floating gate electrode 111 is annularly formed so as to surround the memory hole MH.
Subsequently, the process shown in
Subsequently, the process shown in
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the variation other than those described above are similar to those of the second embodiment.
Subsequently, a semiconductor memory device according to a third embodiment will be described.
A semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment has a distinctive difference compared to the first embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed of metal.
The floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 formed of metal are also required to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid, similar to those of the first embodiment.
In addition, in the semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment, similar to the semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment, reliability can be improved by causing work function of the floating gate electrode 112 to be greater than work function of the floating gate electrode 111, and decreasing a current flowing in the portion C shown in
As a material which is resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid and has greater work function than work function of the floating gate electrode 111, the following materials shown in (i) can be exemplified.
(i) titanium nitride (TiN), nitrogen-containing titanium silicide (TiSixNy), carbon containing titanium silicide (TiSixCy), tantalum nitride (TaN), nitrogen-containing tantalum silicide (TaSixNy) and carbon containing tantalum silicide (TaSixCy)
The floating gate electrode 112 can be ensured to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid by being formed of the aforementioned materials shown in (i). In addition, since a current flowing in the portion C shown in
However, a material for the floating gate electrode 112 is not limited to the aforementioned materials shown in (i). It is acceptable as long as the material is resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid and allows work function of the floating gate electrode 112 to be greater than work function of the floating gate electrode 111.
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the embodiment other than those described above are similar to those of the first embodiment.
Subsequently, a variation of the third embodiment will be described.
The method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation has a distinctive difference compared to the third embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed after the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed.
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the variation other than those described above are similar to those of the third embodiment.
Subsequently, a fourth embodiment will be described.
A semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment has a distinctive difference compared to the second embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed of metal.
The floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 formed of metal are also required to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid, similar to those of the second embodiment.
In addition, reliability can be improved by causing work function of the floating gate electrode 112 to be greater than work function of the floating gate electrode 111, and decreasing a current flowing in the portion C shown in
As a material which is resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid and has greater work function than work function of the floating gate electrode 111, the materials shown in (i) of the third embodiment can be exemplified.
The floating gate electrode 112 can be ensured to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid by being formed of the materials shown in (i) of the third embodiment. In addition, since a current flowing in the portion C shown in
However, a material for the floating gate electrode 112 is not limited to the materials shown in (i) of the third embodiment. It is acceptable as long as the material allows work function of the floating gate electrode 112 to be greater than work function of the floating gate electrode 111.
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the embodiment other than those described above are similar to those of the second embodiment.
Subsequently, a variation of the fourth embodiment will be described.
The method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation has a distinctive difference compared to the fourth embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed after the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed.
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the variation other than those described above are similar to those of the fourth embodiment.
Subsequently, a semiconductor memory device according to a fifth embodiment will be described.
A semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment has a distinctive difference compared to the third embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed of metal.
The floating gate electrode 111 formed of metal is also required to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid. As a material which is resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid, the materials shown in (i) of the third embodiment can be exemplified. The floating gate electrode 111 can be ensured to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid by being formed of the materials shown in (i) of the third embodiment.
In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment, when etch-back is performed without using a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid, the following materials shown in (ii) can be exemplified for the floating gate electrode 111. In addition, the following materials shown in (iii) can be exemplified as materials for the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113.
(ii) tungsten, titanium, tantalum, tungsten nitride, titanium nitride and tantalum nitride
(iii) metal silicide of nickel (Ni), metal silicide of cobalt (Co), metal silicide of tungsten (W) and metal silicide of titanium (Ti)
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the embodiment other than those described above are similar to those of the third embodiment.
Subsequently, a variation of the fifth embodiment will be described.
The method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation has a distinctive difference compared to the fifth embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed after the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed.
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the variation other than those described above are similar to those of the fifth embodiment.
Subsequently, a semiconductor memory device according to a sixth embodiment will be described.
A semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment has a distinctive difference compared to the fourth embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed of metal.
The floating gate electrode 111 formed of metal is also required to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid. As a material which is resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid, the materials shown in (i) of the third embodiment can be exemplified. The floating gate electrode 111 can be ensured to be resistant to a hot choline aqueous solution and hot phosphoric acid by being formed of the materials shown in (i) of the third embodiment.
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the embodiment other than those described above are similar to those of the fourth embodiment.
Subsequently, a variation of the sixth embodiment will be described.
The method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the variation has a distinctive difference compared to the sixth embodiment in that the floating gate electrode 111 is formed after the floating gate electrode 112 and the floating gate electrode 113 are formed.
The configuration, the manufacturing method and the effect of the variation other than those described above are similar to those of the sixth embodiment.
According to the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a semiconductor memory device having a wide channel width, and a method for manufacturing the same.
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 modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/049,208, filed on Sep. 11, 2014; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62049208 | Sep 2014 | US |