Impact of Metal Work-Function on Current Rectification by Metal-Insulator-Metal Diodes

This article presents the experimental investigation of the effect of metal work-function on current rectification by metal–insulator–metal (MIM) diodes. Diverse MIM diode topologies that utilized various types of metal configurations were fabricated and subjected to DC electrical (J-V) characterization, and it was found that the work-function of the various metals impacts the symmetry and linearity of the diodes’ current–voltage curves, the amount of current the diodes can rectify, and their typical zero-bias curvature coefficients. The diodes whose both metal layers have the same work-function exhibits more linear and symmetrical current–voltage curves, with the curves becoming more non-linear and asymmetrical as the variation in work-function of the metals increase, impacting the applications where MIM diodes can be used.