Ultimate Scaling and Performance Potential of MoS2 Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (ULTIMOS2)

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Max Christian Lemme; Privatdozent Dr.-Ing. Frank Schwierz
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 412113712

2D materials beyond graphene have gained enormous attention since a transistor with a two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) channel was demonstrated in 2011. Currently, research on these materials for electronic applications is underway worldwide, in particular on the 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD), with MoS2 as the most prominent representative. MoS2 possesses a sizeable bandgap and therefore shows great promise for future digital electronics. The processing technology for MoS2, however, is still in its infancy and many questions regarding the potential of MoS2 transistors are still open. This makes it currently extremely difficult, if not impossible, to assess the performance and scaling limits of MoS2 transistors and to judge the prospects of these devices for future electronics. This situation provides the motivation for the present project, which is focused on the fabrication technology, theory and simulation of ultimately scaled MoS2 field effect transistors (FETs). The three project partners, two from Germany and one from Austria, with recognized and perfectly complementary expertise in 2D transistor theory and (nano-) fabrication will conduct systematic and exploratory research on MoS2 transistors and address the following objectives:• Exploration of the scaling behavior of MoS2 FETs by thorough and comprehensive in-depth experimental and theoretical studies.• Demonstration of MoS2 top-gate transistors with sub-10 nm gate lengths.• Critical assessment of the prospects of ultimately scaled single- and multilayer MoS2 FETs considering processing constraints, switching speeds and non-idealities such as charge-trapping related issues.• Assessment of p-type operation potential of MoS2 FETs.The partners will utilize state-of-the-art nanofabrication technology to explore the scaling limits of MoS2 FETs. Extensive work on device theory and simulation will be performed to get better insights in the physics and in the performance and scaling limits of TMD MOSFETs. The theoretical work will be closely linked to the experiments and be used to elaborate suitable designs for MoS2 FETs, taking into account the specifics of the processing environment as well as non-idealities such as charge trapping effects. Complete process flows for ultra-scaled MoS2 FETs will be established, including modules for gate dielectric deposition, boron nitride encapsulation and Ohmic contact formation. The resulting range of test structures and transistors from chemical vapor deposited films, including high frequency transistors for extracting switching delays, will undergo thorough analysis and characterization whose results, in turn, will be fed back to the theoretical work. The project will result in significant enhancements of the understanding of the physics, the scaling behavior and the process integration of MoS2 FETs and in a sound assessment of their merits and drawbacks.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Partner Organisation: Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Tibor Grasser