GFET Lab: A Graphene Field-Effect Transistor TCAD Tool

TL;DR

GFET Lab is an open-source, user-friendly simulation tool for graphene FETs that accurately models device behavior and supports circuit design, facilitating research and education in this emerging technology.

Contribution

The paper introduces GFET Lab, a novel open-source simulation software for GFETs, with improved predictive modeling and SPICE compatibility, enhancing research and circuit design capabilities.

Findings

Good agreement between simulated and experimental GFET characteristics

Successful export of SPICE models for circuit simulations

Demonstrated educational and research utility of GFET Lab

Abstract

Graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) are experimental devices which are increasingly seeing commercial and research applications. Simulation and modelling forms an important stage in facilitating this transition, however the majority of GFET modelling relies on user implementation. To this end, we present GFET Lab, a user-friendly, open-source software tool for simulating GFETs. We first provide an overview of approaches to device modelling and a brief survey of GFET compact models and limitations. From this survey, we identify three key criteria for a suitable predictive model for circuit design: it must be a compact model; it must be SPICE-compatible; it must have a minimal number of fitting parameters. We selected Jimenez's drain-current model as it best matched these criteria, and we introduce some modifications to improve the predictive properties, namely accounting for saturation velocity and the asymmetry in n- and p-type carrier mobilities. We then validate the model by comparing GFETs simulated in our tool against experimentally-obtained GFET characteristics with the same materials and geometries and find good agreement between GFET Lab and experiment. We demonstrate the ability to export SPICE models for use in higher level circuit simulations and compare SPICE simulations of GFETs against GFETs simulated in GFET Lab, again showing good agreement. Lastly, we provide a brief tutorial of GFET Lab to demonstrate and encourage its use as a community-developed piece of software with both research and educational applications.