Patent ID: 12261210

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electronic device (e.g., a semiconductor device, a memory device, a 3D NAND device) including a deuterium-containing dielectric material is disclosed. The deuterium-containing dielectric material is produced by forming an initial dielectric material on a substrate and replacing hydrogen in the initial dielectric material with deuterium by conducting a treatment act and a diffusion act. The deuterium-containing dielectric material may function as a charge trap and may be configured as a storage material, a tunnel barrier material, or other charge trap structure of the electronic device. The electronic device incorporating the deuterium-containing dielectric material may exhibit improved electrical performance compared to a conventional electronic device containing a hydrogen-containing dielectric material (e.g., the initial dielectric material).

The following description provides specific details, such as material types and processing conditions, in order to provide a thorough description of embodiments of the disclosed methods and electronic devices. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments of the methods and electronic devices may be practiced without employing these specific details. Indeed, the embodiments of the methods and electronic devices may be practiced in conjunction with conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques employed in the industry. In addition, the description provided herein does not form a complete description of an electronic device or a complete process flow for manufacturing the electronic device and the structures described below do not form a complete electronic device. Only those process acts and structures necessary to understand the embodiments described herein are described in detail below. Additional acts to form a complete electronic device may be performed by conventional techniques.

Unless otherwise indicated, the materials described herein may be formed by conventional techniques including, but not limited to, spin coating, blanket coating, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasma enhanced ALD, physical vapor deposition (PVD) (including sputtering, evaporation, ionized PVD, and/or plasma-enhanced CVD), or epitaxial growth. Alternatively, the materials may be grown in situ. Depending on the specific material to be formed, the technique for depositing or growing the material may be selected by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Drawings presented herein are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to be actual views of any particular material, component, structure, electronic device, or electronic system. Variations from the shapes depicted in the drawings as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described herein are not to be construed as being limited to the particular shapes or regions as illustrated, but include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as box-shaped may have rough and/or nonlinear features, and a region illustrated or described as round may include some rough and/or linear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded, and vice versa. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and do not limit the scope of the present claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

As used herein, the singular forms of the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, “about” or “approximately” in reference to a numerical value for a particular parameter is inclusive of the numerical value and a degree of variance from the numerical value that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand is within acceptable tolerances for the particular parameter. For example, “about” or “approximately” in reference to a numerical value may include additional numerical values within a range of from 90.0 percent to 110.0 percent of the numerical value, such as within a range of from 95.0 percent to 105.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 97.5 percent to 102.5 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.0 percent to 101.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.5 percent to 100.5 percent of the numerical value, or within a range of from 99.9 percent to 100.1 percent of the numerical value.

As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “bottom,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the materials in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if materials in the figures are inverted, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” or “on bottom of” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” or “on top of” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below, depending on the context in which the term is used, which will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. The materials may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees, inverted, flipped) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

As used herein, the term “configured” refers to a size, shape, material composition, and arrangement of one or more of at least one structure and at least one apparatus facilitating operation of one or more of the structure and the apparatus in a pre-determined way.

As used herein, the phrase “coupled to” refers to structures operably connected with each other, such as electrically connected through a direct ohmic connection or through an indirect connection (e.g., via another structure).

As used herein, the term “electronic device” includes, without limitation, a memory device, as well as semiconductor devices which may or may not incorporate memory, such as a logic device, a processor device, or a radiofrequency (RF) device. Further, an electronic device may incorporate memory in addition to other functions such as, for example, a so-called “system on a chip” (SoC) including a processor and memory, or an electronic device including logic and memory. The electronic device may, for example, be a 3D electronic device, such as a 3D NAND Flash memory device.

As used herein, the term “high-k dielectric material” means and includes a dielectric oxide material having a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of silicon oxide (SiOx), such as silicon dioxide (SiO2). The high-k dielectric material may include, but is not limited to, a high-k oxide material, a high-k metal oxide material, or a combination thereof. By way of example only, the high-k dielectric material may be aluminum oxide, gadolinium oxide, hafnium oxide, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium silicate, a combination thereof, or a combination of one or more of the listed high-k dielectric materials with silicon oxide.

As used herein, reference to an element as being “on” or “over” another element means and includes the element being directly on top of, adjacent to (e.g., laterally adjacent to, vertically adjacent to), underneath, or in direct contact with the other element. It also includes the element being indirectly on top of, adjacent to (e.g., laterally adjacent to, vertically adjacent to), underneath, or near the other element, with other elements present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly adjacent to” another element, no intervening elements are present.

As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0 percent met, at least 95.0 percent met, at least 99.0 percent met, at least 99.9 percent met, or even 100.0 percent met.

As used herein, the term “substrate” means and includes a material (e.g., a base material) or construction upon which additional materials are formed. The substrate may be an electronic substrate, a semiconductor substrate, a base semiconductor layer on a supporting structure, an electrode, an electronic substrate having one or more materials, layers, structures, or regions formed thereon, or a semiconductor substrate having one or more materials, layers, structures, or regions formed thereon. The materials on the electronic substrate or semiconductor substrate may include, but are not limited to, semiconductive materials, insulating materials, conductive materials, etc. The substrate may be a conventional silicon substrate or other bulk substrate comprising a layer of semiconductive material. As used herein, the term “bulk substrate” means and includes not only silicon wafers, but also silicon-on-insulator (“SOI”) substrates, such as silicon-on-sapphire (“SOS”) substrates and silicon-on-glass (“SOG”) substrates, epitaxial layers of silicon on a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor or optoelectronic materials, such as silicon-germanium, germanium, gallium arsenide, gallium nitride, and indium phosphide. The substrate may be doped or undoped.

As used herein, the terms “vertical,” “longitudinal,” “horizontal,” and “lateral” are in reference to a major plane of a structure and are not necessarily defined by Earth's gravitational field. A “horizontal” or “lateral” direction is a direction that is substantially parallel to the major plane of the structure, while a “vertical” or “longitudinal” direction is a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the major plane of the structure. The major plane of the structure is defined by a surface of the structure having a relatively large area compared to other surfaces of the structure.

To form the deuterium-containing dielectric material, an initial dielectric material is formed and converted into the deuterium-containing dielectric material. The initial dielectric material may, for example, be formed on a substrate (e.g., a base material). The initial dielectric material may be formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), or other conventional technique. The initial dielectric material may be formed utilizing a conventional CVD precursor or ALD precursor, where an appropriate precursor is selected depending on the dielectric material to be formed. The initial dielectric material may include, but is not limited to, silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride (SiNy), silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy), silicon oxycarbide (SiOxCy), a high-k dielectric material or a combination thereof, where x and y are integers or non-integers. If the initial dielectric material (e.g., the as-formed dielectric material) is one of the silicon-containing materials, the precursors of the dielectric material do not include (e.g., lack) deuterium atoms. Instead, one or more of the precursors may include silicon atoms, nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, and/or halogen atoms. If the initial dielectric material (e.g., the as-formed dielectric material) is one of the silicon-containing materials, the initial dielectric material may include hydrogen atoms in addition to the silicon atoms, nitrogen atoms, carbon atoms, and/or oxygen atoms. If the initial dielectric material (e.g., the as-formed dielectric material) is the high-k dielectric material, the precursors of the high-k dielectric material do not include (e.g., lack) deuterium atoms. Instead, the precursors may include oxygen atoms, carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, and/or halogen atoms in addition to atoms of the elements of the high-k dielectric material. If the initial dielectric material (e.g., the as-formed dielectric material) is the high-k dielectric material, the initial dielectric material may include hydrogen atoms in addition to the oxygen atoms, carbon atoms, and/or atoms of the elements of the high-k dielectric material.

If, for example, the initial dielectric material is silicon nitride, a nitrogen-containing precursor and a silicon precursor may be used to form the initial dielectric material. The nitrogen-containing precursor and/or the silicon precursor may also include hydrogen atoms or oxygen atoms. However, the precursors do not include (e.g., lack) deuterium atoms. By way of non-limiting example, the silicon nitride may be formed using ammonia (NH3) as the nitrogen-containing precursor and dichlorosilane (SiH2Cl2) as the silicon-containing precursor. During the formation of the initial dielectric material, hydrogen atoms from one or more of the precursors may covalently bond to the silicon atoms, forming silicon dangling bonds (e.g., Si—H bonds) in the initial dielectric material. However, the presence of the hydrogen in the initial dielectric material is detrimental to the reliability and other performance properties of an electronic device containing the initial dielectric material. For example, the covalent bonds between the hydrogen atoms and the silicon atoms in the initial dielectric material are weak and may break during use and operation of the electronic device containing the initial dielectric material.

After formation of the initial dielectric material, a treatment act and a diffusion act are conducted in which the hydrogen in the initial dielectric material is replaced with deuterium, producing the deuterium-containing dielectric material. The treatment act may be conducted using a water vapor generator (WVG) system. An oxygen source gas and a deuterium source gas are introduced and reacted in the WVG system to produce deuterium species including, but not limited to, atomic deuterium (D+), deuterium oxide (D2O) and oxydeuterium (OD−). Alternatively, a thermal system or a light system may be used to dissociate the deuterium source gas and initiate the reaction of the deuterium source gas with the oxygen source gas to form the deuterium species. The substrate on which the initial dielectric material is formed may be placed in a chamber operably coupled to the WVG system and the initial dielectric material is exposed to deuterium based treatment gases from the WVG system. Atomic deuterium is highly reactive and reacts with silicon atoms of the initial dielectric material, incorporating deuterium into the dielectric material, while the other deuterium species are removed as by-products. The atomic deuterium also reacts with the oxygen source gas to produce by-products, such as the deuterium oxide (D2O) and oxydeuterium (OD−). As the deuterium source gas enters the WVG system, the catalytic reaction occurs, resulting in disassociation of the deuterium source gas into deuterium species including the atomic deuterium.

The oxygen source gas and the deuterium source gas are supplied into the WVG system and undergo a catalytic chemical reaction to produce the deuterium species. The WVG system may contain a catalyst, such as catalyst-lined reactor or a catalyst cartridge, in which select gases are flowed into, for example, a catalyst-lined reactor located inside of the WVG system. The catalyst may include a metal or alloy, such as palladium, platinum, nickel, iron, chromium, ruthenium, rhodium, alloys thereof or combinations thereof. The WVG system may be a conventional system such as that commercially available from Fujikin of America, Inc., located in Santa Clara, California.

The oxygen source gas, for example, may be oxygen gas (O2), and may be supplied to the WVG system in a pressurized gas cylinder, a pipeline supply system, or other conventional method of supplying gas to the WVG system. The deuterium source gas, for example, may be deuterium gas (D2), and may be supplied to the WVG system in a pressurized gas cylinder, a pipeline supply system, or other conventional method of supplying gas to the WVG system. Both the oxygen source gas and the deuterium source gas may be commercially available. The source gases may be supplied to the WVG system simultaneously, or may be supplied to the WVG system at different times. For example, the oxygen gas may be introduced into the WVG system simultaneously along with the deuterium gas, or may be introduced before or after introducing the deuterium gas to the system.

The pressure utilized for the catalytic chemical reaction to occur may be atmospheric (e.g., 14.7 psi). Alternatively, the pressure may be less than atmospheric (e.g., low-pressure) or greater than atmospheric (e.g., high-pressure). The deuterium source gas and oxygen source gas may each be introduced (e.g., flowed) into the WVG system at a flow rate in the range from about 0.1 SLM (standard liter per minute) to about 20 SLM, preferably, from about 1 SLM to about 10 SLM. Regulating the flow of the oxygen and deuterium source gases enables precise control of oxygen and deuterium concentrations within the formed deuterium species.

The atomic deuterium (D+) produced by the WVG system may become incorporated into the initial dielectric material by a diffusion act. Conditions within the chamber, such as temperature, and exposure time, may be selected to achieve the desired amount of deuterium incorporation into the dielectric material. The temperature within the chamber that contains the substrate on which the initial dielectric material is formed may be maintained within a range of from about 600° C. to about 800° C., such as from about 650° C. to about 700° C., from about 700° C. to about 750° C., or from about 750° C. to about 800° C. The diffusion act may be conducted for from about 1 minute to about 180 minutes, such as from about 10 minutes to about 90 minutes, from about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes, from about 30 minutes to about 90 minutes, or from about 120 minutes to about 180 minutes. By adjusting one or more of the temperature, pressure, flow rate, or exposure time, the amount of deuterium incorporated into the deuterium-containing dielectric material may be tailored.

The silicon-hydrogen (Si—H) bonds of the initial dielectric material are less stable than silicon-deuterium (Si-D) bonds. Although deuterium and hydrogen have the same total energies and formation energies, Si-D bonds are more stable due to their vibrational state being 1.4 times larger than the vibrational state of Si—H bonds. As a result, the atomic deuterium (D+) replaces the hydrogen atoms in the initial dielectric material during the treatment and diffusion acts, forming deuterium covalently bonded to silicon (e.g., the Si-D bonds). The atomic deuterium may replace substantially all of the hydrogen in the initial dielectric material, producing the deuterium-containing dielectric material. By way of example only, the deuterium may replace greater than or equal to about 90% of the hydrogen in the initial dielectric material, such as greater than or equal to about 95% of the hydrogen. The deuterium may be dispersed throughout the deuterium-containing dielectric material, such as homogeneously dispersed throughout the deuterium-containing dielectric material. The deuterium may penetrate into the initial dielectric material a depth of from about 1 nm to about 10 nm. By using precursors that lack deuterium atoms to form the initial dielectric material and by conducting the treatment and diffusion acts after forming the initial dielectric material, the deuterium-containing dielectric material may be formed where substantially all of the hydrogen in the initial dielectric material is replaced with the deuterium. The presence of the Si-D bonds in place of the Si—H bonds may reduce defects in the dielectric material. Without being bound by any theory, the reduction in the defects may result in a higher reliability of the electronic device, such as a 3D NAND device, containing the deuterium-containing dielectric material.

If the initial dielectric material is a high-k dielectric material, an initial high-k dielectric material may be converted to the deuterium-containing dielectric material in substantially the same way as described above for the silicon-containing initial dielectric material. After generating the deuterium species, the atomic deuterium may react with atoms of the high-k dielectric material, replacing substantially all of the hydrogen in the initial high-k dielectric material and producing the deuterium-containing dielectric material.

FIGS.1A and1Billustrate a method of producing a deuterium-containing dielectric material118using a catalytic reaction generating system (e.g., a WVG system) (not shown) for generating the deuterium species. However, the deuterium species may be generated by other systems, such as by generating the deuterium species using heat (a thermal process) or light. As shown inFIG.1A, a substrate114having an initial dielectric material116formed thereon may be placed in a chamber100. An oxygen source gas102and a deuterium source gas104may be reacted in the catalytic reaction generating system (not shown) to produce the deuterium species, including atomic deuterium106and the by-products deuterium oxide108and oxydeuterium110. The deuterium species may then be introduced into the chamber100. The atomic deuterium106diffuses into the initial dielectric material116and replaces hydrogen atoms112with deuterium atoms, as shown inFIG.1B. After substantially all of the hydrogen atoms112are replaced with the deuterium, the deuterium-containing dielectric material118substantially free of hydrogen is formed.

By way of non-limiting example, the initial dielectric material may be formed on a substrate in one chamber and moved to another chamber for the treatment and diffusion acts to produce the deuterium-containing dielectric material. In another example, the initial dielectric material may be formed on a substrate in the same chamber as the treatment and diffusion acts are conducted to produce the deuterium-containing dielectric material.

During the treatment act and diffusion act, deuterium is incorporated into the initial dielectric material116as graphically shown inFIGS.2A and2B.FIG.2Aillustrates the relative hydrogen content in, for example, a silicon oxynitride material as a function of depth measured from the surface of the material. The relative hydrogen content in the silicon oxynitride material before (e.g., an initial silicon oxynitride material) and after (e.g., a deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride material) conducting the treatment and diffusion acts is shown inFIGS.2A and2B. In other words, the deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride material is the initial silicon oxynitride material that has been subjected to the treatment and diffusion acts according to embodiments of the disclosure. The hydrogen content of the initial dielectric material is measured by conventional techniques at various depths. As shown inFIG.2A, the treatment and diffusion acts replaced hydrogen of the silicon oxynitride material with deuterium, forming the deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride material. The hydrogen content in the deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride material is substantially lower than the hydrogen content in the initial silicon oxynitride material for a particular depth.

FIG.2Billustrates the relative deuterium content as a function of depth measured from the surface of the initial silicon oxynitride material and the deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride material. As shown inFIG.2B, the deuterium content in the deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride material is substantially higher than the deuterium content in the initial silicon oxynitride material for a particular depth. Therefore, the treatment act and diffusion act reduced the amount of hydrogen and increased the amount of deuterium in the silicon oxynitride material, forming the deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride material.

Accordingly, a method of forming an electronic device is disclosed. The method comprises forming an initial dielectric material comprising silicon-hydrogen bonds. A deuterium source gas and an oxygen source gas are reacted to produce deuterium species, and the initial dielectric material is exposed to the deuterium species. Deuterium of the deuterium species is incorporated into the initial dielectric material to form a deuterium-containing dielectric material.

Accordingly, another method of forming an electronic device is disclosed. The method comprises forming an initial dielectric material comprising a silicon-containing dielectric material or a high-k dielectric material, the initial dielectric material further comprising hydrogen. A treatment act is performed on the initial dielectric material and comprises producing deuterium species from an oxygen source gas and a deuterium source gas. Deuterium is diffused from the deuterium species into the initial dielectric material to replace hydrogen in the initial dielectric material and to form a deuterium-containing dielectric material.

The deuterium-containing dielectric material of embodiments of the disclosure may be used in an electronic device to trap charge.FIG.3shows an electronic device200that includes one or more deuterium-containing dielectric materials according to embodiments of the disclosure. The electronic device200includes a stack204of alternating tiers of conductive materials206(e.g., conductive gate materials) and dielectric materials208overlying a base material202(e.g., a substrate, a conductive line, such as a source line). For simplicity, additional components of the electronic device200located below the base material202are not shown. A pillar219(e.g., a memory pillar) is located with an opening210extending vertically through the stack204. The pillar219includes an oxide material212, a storage node214, a tunnel region216, a channel material218, and a fill material230. The oxide material212(e.g., a block oxide material) of the pillar219is laterally adjacent to the stack204within the opening210. The storage node214(e.g., a nitride material) is laterally adjacent (e.g., inwardly laterally adjacent) to the oxide material212and the tunnel region216(e.g., an inner oxide material) is laterally adjacent (e.g., inwardly laterally adjacent) to the storage node214. Each of the oxide material212, the storage node214, and the tunnel region216are continuous (e.g., extend continuously) in the vertical direction (Z-direction) of the opening210. The deuterium-containing dielectric material according to embodiments of the disclosure may be used as one or more of the oxide material212, the storage node214, or the tunnel region216of the electronic device200and is formed as described above.

The channel material218is laterally adjacent (e.g., inwardly laterally adjacent) to the tunnel region216and adjacent to (e.g., on or over) the base material202. The fill material230extends between inner sidewalls of the channel material218. The fill material230is located in a central portion of the pillar219and may function as a structural support within the electronic device200. A plug material224(e.g., a drain contact plug material) is adjacent to (e.g., on or over) each of the channel material218and the fill material230and is laterally adjacent (e.g., inwardly laterally adjacent) to the channel material218. A data line226(e.g., bit line, digit line) is adjacent to (e.g., on or over) the plug material224and laterally adjacent to (e.g., substantially surrounded by) a cap material228adjacent to (e.g., on or over) upper surfaces of the stack204. For simplicity, additional components of the electronic device200located above the data line226are not shown. The components of the electronic device200shown inFIG.3may be formed by conventional techniques.

If the deuterium-containing dielectric material is configured as the oxide material212, the oxide material212may be formed laterally adjacent to the stack204and within the opening210. As described above, an as-formed (e.g., initial) oxide material may include hydrogen and is formed by conventional techniques. Deuterium is incorporated into the initial oxide material as described above, producing the oxide material212, which includes deuterium (e.g., Si-D bonds) in place of the hydrogen. The initial oxide material may be formed of and include, but is not limited to, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, gadolinium oxide, hafnium oxide, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, or a combination thereof. The oxide material212may, include, but is not limited to, deuterium-containing silicon dioxide, deuterium-containing aluminum oxide, deuterium-containing hafnium oxide, deuterium-containing zirconium oxide, deuterium-containing gadolinium oxide, deuterium-containing niobium oxide, deuterium-containing tantalum oxide, deuterium-containing titanium oxide or a combination thereof. The oxide material212may, for example, be configured as a charge-blocking material that is conformally formed on the inner sidewalls of the stack204of alternating tiers of conductive materials206and dielectric materials208overlying the base material202.

If the deuterium-containing dielectric material is configured as the storage node214(e.g., a nitride storage material, a charge storage material), the storage node214may be formed (e.g., conformally formed) laterally adjacent to the oxide material212(e.g., conformally formed) laterally adjacent to the storage node214. As described above, an as-formed (e.g., initial) storage node material may include hydrogen and is formed by conventional techniques. The initial storage node material may include, but is not limited to, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. Deuterium is then incorporated into the initial storage node material as described above, producing the storage node214, which includes deuterium (e.g., Si-D bonds). The storage node214may include deuterium-containing silicon nitride, deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. A portion of the storage node214may function as a charge trap region during use and operation of the electronic device200.

If the deuterium-containing dielectric material is configured as the tunnel region216, the tunnel region216may be formed (e.g., conformally formed) laterally adjacent to the storage node214. The as-formed (e.g., initial) tunnel region material includes hydrogen and is formed by conventional techniques. The as-filed tunnel region material may include, but is not limited to, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride or a combination thereof. Deuterium is then incorporated into the initial tunnel region material as described above, producing the tunnel region216, which includes deuterium (e.g., Si-D bonds). The tunnel region216may form a barrier between the storage node214and the channel material218. In some embodiments, the tunnel region216may be formed as a so-called “oxide-nitride-oxide” (ONO) structure (e.g., an interlayer poly dielectric structure), which may be referred to in the art as a barrier engineered material. The tunnel region216may include, but is not limited to, deuterium-containing silicon dioxide, deuterium-containing aluminum oxide, deuterium-containing hafnium oxide, deuterium-containing zirconium oxide, deuterium-containing silicon oxynitride, deuterium-containing silicon nitride or a combination thereof.

While the deuterium-containing dielectric material is described above as being configured as one or more of the oxide material212, the storage node214, or the tunnel region216of the electronic device200, the deuterium-containing dielectric material may be used in other portions of the electronic device200where charge trap properties are desired. The deuterium-containing dielectric material may also be used in other electronic devices where charge trap properties are desired. The deuterium-containing dielectric material provides reduced charge traps, improving time zero and retention properties of the electronic device200, without substantially affecting electrical performance of the electronic device200.

The electronic devices and systems according to embodiments of the disclosure advantageously facilitate one or more of improved reliability, charge retention and memory window compared to conventional electronic devices that utilize hydrogen-containing dielectric materials for charge trap materials. The electronic devices containing the deuterium-containing dielectric material exhibit improved time zero and through cycling charge retention properties compared to the conventional electronic devices. The methods of forming the electronic devices according to embodiments of the disclosure facilitate the formation of electronic devices (e.g., apparatuses, microelectronic devices, electronic devices) and systems (e.g., electronic systems) having one or more of improved performance, reliability, and durability, increased memory window, and improved charge retention as compared to conventional devices including the hydrogen-containing dielectric materials.

Accordingly, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a stack of alternating dielectric materials and conductive materials. A pillar region extends vertically through the stack of alternating dielectric materials and conductive materials. A deuterium-containing dielectric material that is substantially free of hydrogen is within the pillar region and laterally adjacent to the dielectric materials and the conductive materials of the stack.

FIG.4illustrates a partial cutaway perspective view of a portion of an electronic device300(e.g., a microelectronic device, a memory device, such as a 3D NAND Flash memory device) including an electronic structure301(e.g., a microelectronic device structure), which is substantially similar to the electronic device200described with reference toFIG.3. As shown inFIG.4, the electronic structure301of the electronic device300may include a staircase structure320defining contact regions for connecting access lines306to conductive structures305(e.g., corresponding to the conductive materials206(FIG.3)). The electronic structure301may include vertical strings307of memory cells303that are coupled to each other in series. The vertical strings307may extend vertically (e.g., in the Z-direction) and orthogonally to conductive lines and the conductive structures305, such as data lines302(e.g., the data line226(FIG.3)), a source tier304, the access lines306, first select gates308(e.g., upper select gates, drain select gates (SGDs)) corresponding to the upper conductive materials206(FIG.3), select lines309, and a second select gate310(e.g., a lower select gate, a source select gate (SGS)) corresponding to the lower conductive materials206(FIG.3). The first select gates308may be horizontally divided (e.g., in the Y-direction) into multiple blocks332horizontally separated (e.g., in the Y-direction) from one another by slots330.

Vertical conductive contacts311may electrically couple components to each other as shown. For example, the select lines309may be electrically coupled to the first select gates308and the access lines306may be electrically coupled to the conductive structures305. The electronic device300may also include a control unit312positioned under the memory array, which may include at least one of string driver circuitry, pass gates, circuitry for selecting gates, circuitry for selecting conductive lines (e.g., the data lines302, the access lines306), circuitry for amplifying signals, and circuitry for sensing signals. The control unit312may be electrically coupled to the data lines302, the source tier304, the access lines306, the first select gates308, and the second select gates310, for example. In some embodiments, the control unit312includes CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) circuitry. In such embodiments, the control unit312may be characterized as having a “CMOS under Array” (“CuA”) configuration.

The first select gates308may extend horizontally in a first direction (e.g., the X-direction) and may be coupled to respective first groups of vertical strings307of memory cells303at a first end (e.g., an upper end) of the vertical strings307. The second select gate310may be formed in a substantially planar configuration and may be coupled to the vertical strings307at a second, opposite end (e.g., a lower end) of the vertical strings307of memory cells303.

The data lines302(e.g., digit lines, bit lines) may extend horizontally in a second direction (e.g., in the Y-direction) that is at an angle (e.g., perpendicular) to the first direction in which the first select gates308extend. Individual data lines302may be coupled to individual groups of the vertical strings307extending the second direction (e.g., the Y-direction) at the first end (e.g., the upper end) of the vertical strings307of the individual groups. Additional individual group of the vertical strings307extending the first direction (e.g., the X-direction) and coupled to individual first select gates308may share a particular vertical string307thereof with individual group of vertical strings307coupled to an individual data line302. Thus, an individual vertical string307of memory cells303may be selected at an intersection of an individual first select gate308and an individual data line302. Accordingly, the first select gates308may be used for selecting memory cells303of the vertical strings307of memory cells303.

The conductive structures305(e.g., word lines) (corresponding to the conductive materials206) may extend in respective horizontal planes. The conductive structures305may be stacked vertically, such that each conductive structure305is coupled to at least some of the vertical strings307of memory cells303, and the vertical strings307of the memory cells303extend vertically through the stack structure including the conductive structures305. The conductive structures305may be coupled to or may form control gates of the memory cells303.

The first select gates308and the second select gates310may operate to select a vertical string307of the memory cells303interposed between data lines302and the source tier304. Thus, an individual memory cell303may be selected and electrically coupled to a data line302by operation of (e.g., by selecting) the appropriate first select gate308, second select gate310, and conductive structure305that are coupled to the particular memory cell303.

The staircase structure320may be configured to provide electrical connection between the access lines306and the conductive structures305through the vertical conductive contacts311. In other words, an individual conductive structure305may be selected via an access line306in electrical communication with a respective vertical conductive contact311in electrical communication with the conductive structure305. The data lines302may be electrically coupled to the vertical strings307through conductive contact structures334.

Electronic devices (e.g., the electronic devices200,300) including the deuterium-containing dielectric material, according to embodiments of the disclosure may be used in embodiments of electronic systems of the disclosure. For example,FIG.5is a block diagram of an electronic system403, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The electronic system403may comprise, for example, a computer or computer hardware component, a server or other networking hardware component, a cellular telephone, a digital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable media (e.g., music) player, a Wi-Fi or cellular-enabled tablet such as, for example, an iPAD® or SURFACE® tablet, an electronic book, a navigation device, etc. The electronic system403includes at least one memory device405. The memory device405may include, for example, an embodiment of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic devices200,300) previously described herein with reference toFIG.3andFIG.4including the deuterium-containing dielectric material.

The electronic system403may further include at least one electronic signal processor device407(often referred to as a “microprocessor”). The electronic signal processor device407may, optionally, include an embodiment of an electronic device (e.g., one or more of the electronic devices200,300) previously described herein with reference toFIG.3andFIG.4. The electronic system403may further include one or more input devices409for inputting information into the electronic system403by a user, such as, for example, a mouse or other pointing device, a keyboard, a touchpad, a button, or a control panel. The electronic system403may further include one or more output devices411for outputting information (e.g., visual or audio output) to a user such as, for example, a monitor, a display, a printer, an audio output jack, a speaker, etc. In some embodiments, the input device409and the output device411may comprise a single touchscreen device that can be used both to input information to the electronic system403and to output visual information to a user. The input device409and the output device411may communicate electrically with one or more of the memory device405and the electronic signal processor device407.

With reference toFIG.6, depicted is a processor-based system600. The processor-based system600may include various electronic devices (e.g., one or more of the electronic devices200,300) manufactured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The processor-based system600may be any of a variety of types such as a computer, pager, cellular phone, personal organizer, control circuit, or other electronic device. The processor-based system600may include one or more processors602, such as a microprocessor, to control the processing of system functions and requests in the processor-based system600. The processor602and other subcomponents of the processor-based system600may include electronic devices (e.g., one or more of the electronic devices200,300) manufactured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

The processor-based system600may include a power supply604in operable communication with the processor602. For example, if the processor-based system600is a portable system, the power supply604may include one or more of a fuel cell, a power scavenging device, permanent batteries, replaceable batteries, and rechargeable batteries. The power supply604may also include an AC adapter; therefore, the processor-based system600may be plugged into a wall outlet, for example. The power supply604may also include a DC adapter such that the processor-based system600may be plugged into a vehicle cigarette lighter or a vehicle power port, for example.

Various other devices may be coupled to the processor602depending on the functions that the processor-based system600performs. For example, a user interface606may be coupled to the processor602. The user interface606may include input devices such as buttons, switches, a keyboard, a light pen, a mouse, a digitizer and stylus, a touch screen, a voice recognition system, a microphone, or a combination thereof. A display608may also be coupled to the processor602. The display608may include an LCD display, an SED display, a CRT display, a DLP display, a plasma display, an OLED display, an LED display, a three-dimensional projection, an audio display, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, an RF sub-system/baseband processor610may also be coupled to the processor602. The RF sub-system/baseband processor610may include an antenna that is coupled to an RF receiver and to an RF transmitter (not shown). A communication port612, or more than one communication port612, may also be coupled to the processor602. The communication port612may be adapted to be coupled to one or more peripheral devices614, such as a modem, a printer, a computer, a scanner, or a camera, or to a network, such as a local area network, remote area network, intranet, or the Internet, for example.

The processor602may control the processor-based system600by implementing software programs stored in the memory. The software programs may include an operating system, database software, drafting software, word processing software, media editing software, or media playing software, for example. The memory is operably coupled to the processor602to store and facilitate execution of various programs. For example, the processor602may be coupled to system memory616, which may include one or more of spin torque transfer magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), racetrack memory, and other known memory types. The system memory616may include volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof. The system memory616is typically large so that it can store dynamically loaded applications and data. In some embodiments, the system memory616may include semiconductor devices, such as the electronic devices (e.g., the electronic devices200,300) described above, or a combination thereof.

The processor602may also be coupled to non-volatile memory618, which is not to suggest that system memory616is necessarily volatile. The non-volatile memory618may include one or more of STT-MRAM, MRAM, read-only memory (ROM) such as an EPROM, resistive read-only memory (RROM), and flash memory to be used in conjunction with the system memory616. The size of the non-volatile memory618is typically selected to be just large enough to store any necessary operating system, application programs, and fixed data. Additionally, the non-volatile memory618may include a high-capacity memory such as disk drive memory, such as a hybrid-drive including resistive memory or other types of non-volatile solid-state memory, for example. The non-volatile memory618may include electronic devices, such as the electronic devices (e.g., the electronic devices200,300) described above, or a combination thereof.

Accordingly, a system comprising a processor operably coupled to an input device and an output device, and a memory device operably coupled to the processor and comprising at least one electronic device is disclosed. The at least one electronic device comprises strings of memory cells vertically extending through a stack of alternating dielectric materials and conductive materials, and a channel region within a pillar region of the at least one electronic device. The at least one electronic device comprises a deuterium-containing, substantially hydrogen-free dielectric material within the pillar region and laterally adjacent to the dielectric materials and the conductive materials of the stack.

While certain illustrative embodiments have been described in connection with the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that embodiments encompassed by the disclosure are not limited to those embodiments explicitly shown and described herein. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the scope of embodiments encompassed by the disclosure, such as those hereinafter claimed, including legal equivalents. In addition, features from one disclosed embodiment may be combined with features of another disclosed embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope of the disclosure.