Junctionless Electric-Double-Layer MoS2 Field-Effect Transistor with a Sub-5 nm Thick Electrostatically Highly Doped Channel

Abstract

Junctionless transistors are suitable for sub-3 nm applications because of their extremely simple structure and high electrical performance, which compensate for short-channel effects. Two-dimensional semiconductor transition-metal dichalcogenide materials, such as MoS2, may also resolve technical and fundamental issues for Si-based technology. Here, we present the first junctionless electric-double-layer field-effect transistor with an electrostatically highly doped 5 nm thick MoS2 channel. A double-gated MoS2 transistor with an ionic-liquid top gate and a conventional bottom gate demonstrated good transfer characteristics with a 104 on？off current ratio, a 70 mV dec？1 subthreshold swing at a 0 V bottom-gate bias, and drain-current versus top-gate-voltage characteristics were shifted left significantly with increasing bottom-gate bias due to an electrostatically increased overall charge carrier concentration in the MoS2 channel. When a bottom-gate bias of 80 V was applied, a shoulder and two clear peak features were identified in the transconductance and its derivative, respectively; this outcome is typical of Si-based junctionless transistors. Furthermore, the decrease in electron mobility induced by a transverse electric field was reduced with increasing bottom-gate bias. Numerical simulations and analytical models were used to support these findings, which clarify the operation of junctionless MoS2 transistors with an electrostatically highly doped channel.