(Invited) Gate-All-Around Nanowire FETs vs. Triple-Gate FinFETs: On Gate Integrity and Device Characteristics

Abstract

This work reports a comprehensive evaluation of lateral gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire (NW) FETs vs. triple-gate finFETs, with both types of devices built with various doping schemes, and with GAA-NWFETs outperforming others per footprint. Optimized junctionless (JL) GAA-NWFETs exhibit excellent electrostatics and smaller IOFF values. They also yield ring oscillators with substantially lower power dissipation, while showing considerably longer BTI lifetimes. Improved reliability and increased robustness against process variations in the GAA formation module are also obtained for extensionless vs. reference inversion-mode (IM) FETs built with conventional junctions, at comparable device and circuit performance. JL GAA-NWFET devices also show improved on and off state hot carrier (HC) reliability and reduced LF noise, with some of them also exhibiting smaller subthreshold slope values after HC stress. In addition, further improvements in the noise, reliability and mobility performance of GAA-NWFETs can be obtained by introduction of a TiAl-based EWF-metal in the gate stack.