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I

pn diode
p

No control

MOSFET
n

I
pp

TRANSISTORS
n

BJT
I
pp

I
V

Metal-Semiconductor Field
Effect Transistors
MOSFETs

MOSFET fabrication

1. p-type substrate
2. Thermal oxidation
3. Poly-Si deposition
4. Lithography and Ohmic
contact window opening
5. Donor implantation and
thermal anneal.
5. Lithography and metal
deposition.
5. Back contact.

Names of contacts on MOSFET


Gate: G
Source: S

Drain: D

S, B: normally grounded

Bulk contact: B

Current and control?


VDS

n+

Apply only VDS


np diode un-biased
pn diode reverse biased
D

SiO2

NO CURRENT

n+
p-Si

CONTROL
The voltage on the gate can create a
conduction path between source and
drain and control the amplitude of the
current that is flowing.

n-channel MOSFET
Enhancement mode:
no conduction when no gate voltage applied

p-Si substrate

n+ Ohmic contacts
source, drain contacts
SiO2 oxide insulator
gate contact
bulk contact grounded with S

Energy band
diagram from
GB

Energy band
diagram
from S D

The function of the GATE contact


Metal Oxide - Semiconductor contact
MOS

p-Si

Assume SiO2
perfect insulator

current I = 0A
Capacitive effects
Electric field effect

Energy band diagram MOS: Vext = 0V


S

m= s
G

n+-Si

D
n+-Si

p-Si
B
nMOS

Energy band diagram: Vext = 0V


metal

em

oxide
Ec

semiconductor
Evac
es

eSi
Ec
EFs
Ev

EFm

1) Workfunction: m= s
2) Electron affinity in
oxide
e SiO2 = Evac-EcSiO2
2) p-type semiconductor
3) No e- transfer

Ev

Note, if mSi: then an electric field occurs


across interface V0=m-Si

Under chosen conditions: no band bending when connecting

Energy band diagram MOS: Vext = 0V


metal
oxide
gate

p-Si

m= s
G

n+-Si

n+-Si

Ecox
p-Si
EcSi

B
nMOS

EFSi
EvSi

EFSi

Flatband condition
Evox

tox

Energy band diagram MOS: Vext < 0V


V

+
+
E

Ecox

parallel plate capacitor


EcSi
EFSi
EvSi

EFm

Evox

h+

p-Si

tox

accumulation of holes

Energy band diagram MOS: Vext > 0V


V

+
+

Ecox

parallel plate capacitor


EcSi
EFSi
EvSi

EFm

Evox

NA-

tox wp

Depletion of holes

p-Si

Energy band diagram MOS: Vext = Vth > 0V


Vth

++
++

THRESHOLD VOLTAGE

--E

Ecox
attraction of
electrons
EcSi
EFSi
EvSi

EFm
Evox

2 parallel plate capacitors


+

e- NA-

-- -- -- tox wpmax

Depletion of holes

p-Si

Energy band diagram MOS: Vext = Vth > 0V


Vth

THRESHOLD VOLTAGE

---

++
++
Ecox

EcSi
ns
eVth
EFm
Evox

p EFSi
EvSi

Definition of threshold voltage:


ns @ SiO2/Si interface = p in bulk
INVERSION

MOS-capacitor
Capacitance varies with gate voltage
C
accumulation

Cmax = Cox A
Oxide capacitance

depletion

Ideal MOS capacitor on ptype substrate.


Cmin

inversion High frequency


measurement (1 MHz)
V

Vth
1/Cmin = 1/(Cox A)+1/(Cdepl A)

Depletion capacitance

m=s
VGSV>0
GS

Inversion region
Depletion region
hhh+++
O n
Ecox

p-Si

EF
Evs

Evox

on p-Si

ddeplmax

Ecs
E
EFm
Fm
EFm
EFm

Inversion
Revision

equilibrium
Depleting
> V th p-Si
V
GS =
Inversion
Onset
of inversion

n-channel MOSFET - Enhancement mode:


ACTION OF GATE
VGS
Vth

VGS

n-channel MOSFET - Enhancement mode:


Applying a drain-source voltage

bulk contact grounded with S

Energy band
diagram
from S D

Energy band diagram from S D


0V
S

0V
G

0V
D

channel

n+
eV0

n+
Ec

EF

Ev
Potential barrier between supply of electrons from source into channel

Energy band diagram from S D


0V
S

0V
G

VDS>0V
D

channel
E
eV0

Need gate to lower V0


Ec
Ec EF
EF
Ev
Ev

n+
p
n+
Potential barrier between supply of electrons from source into channel
stops diffusion of e- from source into channel IDS = 0V

Energy band diagram from G B


G

S
G
channel

channel

channel

D
0V

0V

source
G ox

p-Si
Ec
EF
Ev

G ox

channel

Energy band diagram


from G B
Apply VGS = Vth > 0
Then inversion
charge at ox/Si is
equal to the majority
carrier charge in p-Si

p-Si
Ec

EF

eVGS

EF
Ev

Threshold!
VGS=Vth

G ox

channel

Energy band diagram


from G B
Apply positive
voltage on gate
VGS>Vth
INVERSION

p-Si
Ec

E
EFF

e VGS

EF
Ev

Full of electrons

Impact of VGS on energy band diagram from S D


S

channel

n+

p n

n+
Ec

EF

Ev
Potential barrier between supply of electrons from source into channel
Potential barrier between supply of electrons from source into channel
is lowered, thus electrons from source will not be blocked if
attracted by drain

Impact of VDS on energy band diagram from S D


S

channel

n+

n+

Apply VDS > 0V

Ec
EF

Electrons allowed across the source-channel potential barrier now


DRIFT to the drain

Derivation of currents in
MOSFETs
dn( x)
J n ( x) e n n( x)E ( x) eDn
dx
dp( x)
J p ( x) e p p ( x)E ( x) eD p
dx

VGSVth
VDS 0

dn( x)
dx
dp ( x)
J p ( x) e p p ( x)E ( x) eD p
dx
J n ( x) e n n( x)E ( x) eDn

SD
Drift eDrift e-

Diffusion e

Diffusion e- Drift en-

+
ECS n
EFS

EVS

Drift h

GB
@S

GB
@D

EFS

EFD

n+ ECD
EFD
+

EVD
Diffusion h+

Diffusion h+ Drift h+

nsD

nsS
Diffusion
eEV EF

EC

EV EF

EC

Derivation of currents in
MOSFETs
Current in single carrier type layer under
electric field: drift current
I e n( x) E ( x) A
dV ( x)
I en( x)
A
dx
Q

MOS: capacitive effect


Charges induced by applied voltage: Q

Determine source-drain current


1. Determine charge Q in channel

Take VDS = 0
Apply VGS Vth

VDS

Remember:
S

VGS>Vth
Qn

Cox

Qn = charge/unit area
Cox V
Cox = 0 ox/tox
Qn = CV

Which V?
Assume: @ VGS = Vth : Qn = 0
then:
Qn = -Cox (VGS Vth)
Charge in the channel under
the gate per gate area

Determine source-drain current


2. Determine charge Q(x) in channel
VDS
S

Take VDS > 0, VGS Vth


VGS>Vth

Inversion layer

Determine source-drain current


2. Determine charge in channel
y
VDS
VGS>Vth
G
S
D

Take VDS > 0, VGS Vth


Not only do we have a voltage in the y
direction due to the gate voltage
But also in the x direction due to the
drain voltage
Thus in the channel we have the
vector sum of the gate induced electric
field and the drain induced electric
field.

Determine source-drain current


2. Determine charge in channel
y
Take VDS > 0, VGS Vth
VDS
The inversion layer is a function
VGS>Vth
of the electric field in the channel
G
S
D
of the MOS at each position x
along the channel.
Voltage in the channel due to
VDS is Vx(x).
Voltage in the channel due to
VGS and Vx(x) is Vy(x).
x

Vx(x)
VDS

@ x=0 : Vy(0) = VGS


@ x=L : Vy(L) = VGD
VGD = VGS VDS

@ x : Vy(x) = VGS - Vx(x).

Determine source-drain current


2. Determine charge in channel
y
VDS
VGS>Vth
G
S
D

Charge in channel
Qn = -Cox (VGS - Vx(x) - Vth)

Vx(x)
VDS

A closer look at the inversion layer


Voltage drop across the channel
VG

VG >Vth
VS =0

VS

VD >0

VS

VG
aD

aS

VS
Charge:
Inversion layer
width:

VG

QnS=-Cox(VGS-Vth)
aS = a0 QnS

Channel region
VD
VD

VD
QnD=-Cox(VGD-Vth)
QnD=-Cox((VGS VDS)-Vth)
Since VGS VDS<VGS
QnD< QnS aD < aS

A closer look at the inversion layer


Pinch-off: VDS = VGS -Vth
VG

VG >Vth

VG

VG
Channel region

VS =0
VS

VD >0
S

VS

VD
aS

VS

Charge:
Inversion layer
width:

QnS=-Cox(VGS-Vth)
aS = a0 QnS

VD

VD
Q
QnnDD=-C
=-Coxox(V
((VGDGS-V
V
th)DS)-Vth)
QnD=-Cox((VGS (VGS -Vth))-Vth)
QnD=0 aD =0

Current in channel
Drift current:

I = e nn(x) e E A
constant

area
-dVx/dx

graphs in books

Current in channel
Drift current:

I = e nn(x) e E A

n(x)? density of mobile carriers in channel due to inversion at point x

tox

ox
S

a(x)

channel
x

Current in channel
Drift current:

I = e nn(x) e E A

n(x)? density of mobile carriers in channel due to inversion at point x


Charge due to gate voltage (MOS capacitor)
Qn(x) = -Cox (VGS - Vx(x) Vth)
Voltage across oxide at each point x along the channel
= e #carriers/gate area (=W L)

tox
L

a(x)

channel
x

Current in channel
Drift current:

I = e nn(x) e E A

n(x)? density of mobile carriers in channel due to inversion at point x


Qn (x) = -Cox (VGS - Vx(x) Vth)
= e #carriers/area (=W L)

n(x)

#carriers/volume (=W L a)

tox

n(x) = Qn(x)/(a(x) e)
n(x) = -Cox (VGS - Vx(x) Vth)/(a(x) e)

I = -e Cox (VGS - Vx(x) Vth) e E A/(a(x) e)

Current in channel
A
I = -e Cox (VGS - Vx(x) Vth) e E A/(a(x)
e)
A: area of current flow
A = a(x) W

tox
L

I = -e Cox (VGS - Vx(x) Vth) e E a(x) W/(a(x) e)


I = Cox (VGS Vx(x) Vth) W e dVx/dx

Current
I = Cox (VGS V(x) Vth) W e dVx/dx
0L I dx = Cox W e 0VDS (VGS Vx(x) Vth) dVx
I = Cox e (W /L) [(VGS Vth) VDS- VDS2/2]
Electron
Oxide capacitance mobility
per area
in
channel

Threshold voltage
Length of
channel

Width of channel

Current-voltage characteristics
0< VGS Vth
VDS < VGS Vth

0< VGS Vth


VDS =
VGS Vth

I = Cox W e /L [(VGS Vth) VDS - VDS /2]


2

VGS

VDS

R(VGS)
Triode region:
voltage controlled resistance
Vy VGS

Vth
Pinch-off
I = Cox W e /2L (VGS Vth)2
Saturation region:
voltage controlled current source

Ideal n-channel enhancement mode


MOSFET characteristics
Output characteristics

I DS

2
n C oxWg

VDS

VGS Vth VDS

Lg
2

VDS VGS Vth


I DS

n C oxWg
Lg

Onset of saturation

VGS Vth VDS


IDS

Triode region
Linear
Resistor behaviour

VDS VGS Vth


sat
I DS

n C oxWg
2 Lg

VGS Vth 2
Saturation region
Constant
Current source
VGS

VDS

Ideal n-channel enhancement mode


MOSFET characteristics
Transfer characteristics
triode

in triode region

IDS

IDS
VDS1

VGS

VDS

Vth

VGS

Ideal n-channel enhancement mode


MOSFET characteristics
Transfer characteristics
saturation

in saturation region

IDS

IDS

VGS

VDS

Vth

VGS

In saturation: voltage controlled current source


IDS

VGS

VDS
How well does the gate control the current?
gm
I

sat
DS

dI DS
dVGS

Ro

nC oxWg
VGS Vth 2

2 Lg

g msat

nC oxWg
VGS Vth
Lg

gmvgs

Transconductance, gm

dI DS
Ro
dVDS

What happens at pinch-off?


The channel-drain junction is reverse
biased.
A depletion region exists between the
channel and the drain.

MOSFET: VGS>Vth>0 ; VDS VGS-Vth


S

no longer inverted

depleted

channel

n+
V0-Vsi

n+
Ec
Ec
Ev
Ev

EF
EF

Large part of the VDS will be dropped across the channel-drain depletion region = reverse
biased pn diode.
If VDS is increased, most of the extra voltage will be dropped across the channel-drain
depletion region.

MOSFET: VGS>Vth 0 ; VDS VGS-Vth


S

channel

n+

n+

V0-Vsi

Ec
EF
Ev
Negligible change in slope of potential energy Ec in channel
No change in source-channel barrier (controls carrier supply)
Thus current remains constant

Why is there current through a depletion region?


Remember: Reverse biased pn diode
The current in reverse bias is limited by the availability of
minority carriers
Drain

Electron drift Electron diffusion

e(V0+Vr)
Ec
EF

Hole energy

Any extra is
made available
by source and
is controlled by
the source
channel
potential barrier

Electron energy

Channel

Ev
Hole diffusion

Hole drift

TCAD simulations
Numerical solution of the transport equations
D
Vx(x)
saturation

channel
linear
S

Taken from: http://www.eng.auburn.edu/~niuguof/elec6710dev/html/idvd.html

Real n-channel enhancement mode


MOSFET characteristics
For VDS => VGS-Vth

Channel length modulation


IDS

VGS

VGS

I 1/L
L L-L
I 1/(L-L)

VDS

VDS
L
L

Channel length L
has decreased by L

A closer look at the inversion layer


Channel length modulation: VDS > VGS -Vth
VG

VG >Vth

VG

VG
Channel region

VS =0
VS

VD >0
S

VS

L
aS

VS

Charge:
Inversion layer
width:

VD
VD

L
L

VD

QnS=-Cox(VGS-Vth)
aS = a0 QnS

If VDS > VGS Vth then at some point

QnC( )=-Cox((VGS (VGS -Vth))-Vth)


QnC=0 thus aC =0
in the channel: Vx(x) = VGS Vth

Different modes of operation


n-channel
nMOS
0
S
en

>0
G

p-channel
pMOS
>0
D
n

0
S
+
h
p

<0
G

Vth>0

Vth<0

Carriers in channel: e-

<0
D
p

Carriers in channel: h+

Different modes of operation


Enhancement mode

S
S

Depletion mode

VDS =0

VDS =0

VGS=0
G
D
D

VGS =0
G
D
D

No channel

S
S

Channel exists

Different modes of operation


Current-voltage characteristics
nMOS
Enhancement mode
Depletion mode
IDS

IDS

VGS VGS
5 2
4

3
2
1

0
-1
-2

VDS

VDS1

Vth

Vth

VDS1

VGS

CMOS

Vth<0V
IDS
VGS
VD>Vth

pMOS
in

out

vout

vin
nMOS

vin

vout

VD

IDS
VGS
Vth>0V

VD

Conclusions
A MOSFET is a majority carrier device.
The width of the conducting channel and thus the
amount of carriers in the channel is determined by
the gate voltage.
Current is determined by drift through a channel.
The current is inversely proportional to the length
of the gate.
The transconductance is a measure of how good
the gate controls the current through the channel.
Different modes of operation exist dependent on
carrier type and inversion layer width without gate
bias.

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