Effect of deep-level impurities on the drain characteristics of short-channel metal-semiconductor field effect transistors

The role of deep-level impurities in the drain characteristics of a short-channel metal-semiconductor field effect transistor has been investigated. The drain current of the device has been evaluated for different values of deep-level density and at different temperatures ranging from 300 to 400 K. The presence of deep levels gives rise to an excess drain current resulting from the electronic excitations from the defect levels. The increase in the temperature enhances the current due to increasing ionization of the defects. An analytical expression for the channel conductance is also derived and it is found to be a function of deep-level concentration besides other nonidealities such as interface states and interfacial oxide layer. The effect of gate length shortening also reveals significant changes in the current and conductance.