A Multifunctional Sub-10nm Transistor

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile nanoscale transistor that combines BJT-like behavior with CMOS fabrication, enabling high-frequency operation and adaptive analog functionalities at sub-10nm scales.

Contribution

A novel transistor design using CMOS technology that emulates BJT characteristics and offers tunable gain, operating at GHz frequencies with potential for adaptive analog circuits.

Findings

Operates as a NOT gate at 730 GHz

Ring oscillator reaches 240 GHz

Carrier modulation allows five orders of magnitude gain change

Abstract

Nano-electronic integrated circuit technology is exclusively based on MOSFET transistor due to its scalability down to the nanometer range. On the other hand, Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT), which provides unmatched analog characteristics and frequency response, cannot be scaled to nanometer regime without the loss of transistor action. Here a versatile nanoscale transistor is introduced that provides identical BJT behavior and expands its capabilities. The new transistor uses CMOS fabrication technology and creates BJT emitter, base, and collector via electric fields. By allowing carrier modulation during operation, its current gain can be changed at least by five orders of magnitude. This property introduces novel adaptive, variable gain, and programmable analog modules into existing electronic circuit design and manufacturing. A NOT gate version of this device with the critical dimension of 7 nm operates at 730 GHz, and its three-stage ring oscillator exhibits a frequency of 240 GHz. With proper gate biasing, it can also operate as a nanoscale MOSFET, easily alleviating short-channel effects.