Device simulation study of multilayer MoS2 Schottky barrier field-effect transistors

Abstract Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) is a representative two-dimensional layered transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductor. Layer-number-dependent electronic properties are attractive in the development of nanomaterial-based electronics for a wide range of applications including sensors, switches, and amplifiers. MoS 2 field-effect transistors (FETs) have been studied as promising future nanoelectronic devices with desirable features of atomic-level thickness and high electrical properties. When a naturally n -doped MoS 2 is contacted with metals, a strong Fermi-level pinning effect adjusts a Schottky barrier and influences its electronic characteristics significantly. In this study, we investigate multilayer MoS 2 Schottky barrier FETs (SBFETs), emphasizing the metal-contact impact on device performance via computational device modeling. We find that p -type MoS 2 SBFETs may be built with appropriate metals and gate voltage control. Furthermore, we propose ambipolar multilayer MoS 2 SBFETs with asymmetric metal electrodes, which exhibit gate-voltage dependent ambipolar transport behavior through optimizing metal contacts in MoS 2 device. Introducing a dual-split gate geometry, the MoS 2 SBFETs can further operate in four distinct configurations: p − p , n − n , p − n , and n − p . Electrical characteristics are calculated, and improved performance of a high rectification ratio can be feasible as an attractive feature for efficient electrical and photonic devices.