Steep-slope nanowire field-effect transistor (SS-NWFET)

Abstract

In this work we propose a novel device concept with nearly ideal switching properties: i) a sustained inverse switching-slope as small as 3 mV/dec at room temperature; ii) no appreciable degradation of the on-current and, iii) a large output conductance at low drain voltage, which represents an essential property for rail-to-rail switching in logic applications. These extraordinary properties could posibly be achieved by shaping the density of states in the conduction band so as to generate a first subband with a small energy extension, and a second subband widely displaced in energy, so that its contribution to the drain current is negligible. Computer simulations accounting for the idealized band structure depicted thus far confirm the steep-slope turn-on characteristics of this ideal device, and give an insight on the optimal band-structure parameters.