Patent ID: 8461000

Claim:
A method of making a monolithic three dimensional NAND string, comprising: forming a stack of alternating layers of a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises a conductive or semiconductor control gate material, and wherein the second layer comprises an insulating sub-layer and a first sacrificial sub-layer; etching the stack to form at least one opening in the stack; selectively etching the first layer to form first recesses; forming a blocking dielectric in the first recesses; forming a plurality of discrete charge storage segments separated from each other in the first recesses over the blocking dielectric; forming a tunnel dielectric over a side wall of the discrete charge storage segments exposed in the at least one opening; forming a semiconductor channel in the at least one opening; etching the stack to expose a back side of the stack; removing the first sacrificial sub-layer to form second recesses; and forming a plurality of conductive or semiconductor shielding wings separated from each other in the second recesses; wherein the first sacrificial sub-layer is located above or below the insulating sub-layer in each second layer.