SemiAnalysis — 3D NAND is switching word lines from tungsten to molybdenum above ~300 layers

X post

SemiAnalysis — 3D NAND is switching word lines from tungsten to molybdenum above ~300 layers

A physics-down bottleneck under the memory supercycle: layer-stacking is the only scaling axis left for 3D NAND, and past roughly 300 layers the tungsten wiring itself becomes the limit on resistance and fluorine chemistry. A materials switch at that layer of the stack is a deposition-equipment and precursor story before it is a NAND-maker story, and it puts a physical ceiling under 'just add layers' capacity assumptions.

Open on X @SemiAnalysis_
SemiAnalysis✓ @SemiAnalysis_
Aug 22

NAND Manufacturing is moving from Tungsten to Molybdenum (Mo): 3D NAND stopped shrinking sideways a decade ago, it scales by stacking layers. But above ~300 layers, the tungsten word lines wiring every memory cell hit a wall: resistance is too high, fluorine-based chemistry

Why it's worth your time

A physics-down bottleneck under the memory supercycle: layer-stacking is the only scaling axis left for 3D NAND, and past roughly 300 layers the tungsten wiring itself becomes the limit on resistance and fluorine chemistry. A materials switch at that layer of the stack is a deposition-equipment and precursor story before it is a NAND-maker story, and it puts a physical ceiling under 'just add layers' capacity assumptions.

9 events