N-P-N Bipolar Action in Junctionless Nanowire TFET: Physical Operation of a Modified Current Mechanism for Low Power Applications

TL;DR

This paper explores a novel device physics mechanism in junctionless nanowire TFETs that combines bipolar transistor action to achieve improved low-power switching performance with high on-state current and steep subthreshold swing.

Contribution

It introduces a modified current mechanism leveraging n-p-n bipolar action in junctionless nanowire TFETs, enhancing device performance for low power applications.

Findings

Achieved high on-state current of 2.17×10^-6 A/μm

Demonstrated subthreshold swing of approximately 50 mV/dec

Enhanced device performance through bipolar action mechanism

Abstract

In this paper we study the device physics of a technique for realizing an n-p-n bipolar transistor action in the source side of a junctionless nanowire tunneling FET (BJN-TFET). In the on-state, tunneling of electrons from valence band of the source to conduction band of the channel enhances the hole concentration as well as the potential in the source region which drives a built-in BJT transistor by forward biasing the base-emitter junction, with the source acting as a p-type region. Owing to the sharp switching of the JN-TFET and high BJT current gain, the overall performance is improved, including favorable high on-state current (2.17*10-6 A/um), and sub 60 mV/dec subthreshold swing (~ 50 mV/dec) at low supply voltages. This approach modifies the current mechanism owning to the triggered BJT and makes the proposed structure more attractive for scaling requirements in future low power application.