Patent ID: 9230980
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: G11C,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method of fabricating a memory device, comprising: forming a stack of alternating layers of a first material and a second material different from the first material over a substrate including a semiconductor material; etching a portion of the stack to form a memory opening extending from a top surface of the stack to a top surface of the substrate; forming a memory film layer within the memory opening; forming a sacrificial material layer on the memory film layer; etching horizontal portions of the sacrificial material layer and the memory film layer to physically expose a portion of the top surface of the substrate underneath the memory opening, while leaving a vertical portion of the sacrificial material layer remaining on a vertical portion of the memory film layer; removing the sacrificial material layer selective to a remaining portion of the memory film layer; and depositing a single semiconductor material layer on a sidewall of the remaining portion of the memory film layer to form at least an upper portion of a semiconductor channel.