No Arabic abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) have been intensively investigated because of their exclusive physical properties for advanced electronics and optoelectronics. In the present work, we study the MoS2 transistor based on a novel tri-gate device architecture, with dual-gate (Dual-G) in the channel and the buried side-gate (Side-G) for the source/drain regions. All gates can be independently controlled without interference. For a MoS2 sheet with a thickness of 3.6 nm, the Schottky barrier (SB) and non-overlapped channel region can be effectively tuned by electrostatically doping the source/drain regions with Side-G. Thus, the extrinsic resistance can be effectively lowered, and a boost of the ON-state current can be achieved. Meanwhile, the channel control remains efficient under the Dual-G mode, with an ON-OFF current ratio of 3E7 and subthreshold swing of 83 mV/decade. The corresponding band diagram is also discussed to illustrate the device operation mechanism. This novel device structure opens up a new way toward fabrication of high-performance devices based on 2D-TMDs.
Non-volatile memory devices have been limited to flash architectures that are complex devices. Here, we present a unique photomemory effect in MoS$_2$ transistors. The photomemory is based on a photodoping effect - a controlled way of manipulating the density of free charges in monolayer MoS$_2$ using a combination of laser exposure and gate voltage application. The photodoping promotes changes on the conductance of MoS$_2$ leading to photomemory states with high memory on/off ratio. Such memory states are non-volatile with an expectation of retaining up to 50 % of the information for tens of years. Furthermore, we show that the photodoping is gate-tunable, enabling control of the recorded memory states. Finally, we propose a model to explain the photodoping, and we provide experimental evidence supporting such a phenomenon. In summary, our work includes the MoS$_2$ phototransistors in the non-volatile memory devices and expands the possibilities of memory application beyond conventional memory architectures.
Monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS$_2$) nanosheets, obtained via chemical vapor deposition onto SiO$_2$/Si substrates, are exploited to fabricate field-effect transistors with n-type conduction, high on/off ratio, steep subthreshold slope and good mobility. The transistor channel conductance increases with the reducing air pressure due to oxygen and water desorption. Local field emission measurements from the edges of the MoS$_2$ nanosheets are performed in high vacuum using a tip-shaped anode. It is demonstrated that the voltage applied to the Si substrate back-gate modulates the field emission current. Such a finding, that we attribute to gate-bias lowering of the MoS$_2$ electron affinity, enables a new field-effect transistor based on field emission.
Semiconductors require stable doping for applications in transistors, optoelectronics, and thermoelectrics. However, this has been challenging for two-dimensional (2D) materials, where existing approaches are either incompatible with conventional semiconductor processing or introduce time-dependent, hysteretic behavior. Here we show that low temperature (< 200$^circ$ C) sub-stoichiometric AlO$_x$ provides a stable n-doping layer for monolayer MoS$_2$, compatible with circuit integration. This approach achieves carrier densities > 2x10$^{13}$ 1/cm$^2$, sheet resistance as low as ~7 kOhm/sq, and good contact resistance ~480 Ohm.um in transistors from monolayer MoS$_2$ grown by chemical vapor deposition. We also reach record current density of nearly 700 uA/um (>110 MA/cm$^2$) in this three-atom-thick semiconductor while preserving transistor on/off current ratio > $10^6$. The maximum current is ultimately limited by self-heating and could exceed 1 mA/um with better device heat sinking. With their 0.1 nA/um off-current, such doped MoS$_2$ devices approach several low-power transistor metrics required by the international technology roadmap
The possibility of tailoring the critical strain of 2D materials will be crucial for the fabrication of flexible devices. In this paper, the fracture in polycrystalline MoS2 films with two different grain orientations is studied at the micro- and nanoscale using electron microscopy. The critical uniaxial strain is determined to be approximately 5% and independent of the sample morphology. However, electron beam irradiation is found to enhance the interaction between the MoS2 and the PDMS substrates, leading to an increased critical strain that can exceed 10%. This enhancement of strain resistance was used to fabricate a mechanically robust array of lines 1 mm in length. Finally, nanoscale crack propagation studied by transmission electron microscopy showed that cracks propagate along the grain boundaries as well as through the grains, preferentially along van der Waals bonding. These results provide insight regarding the fracture of polycrystalline 2D materials and a new method to tailor the critical strain and nanofabrication of ultra-thin MoS2 devices using well-developed tools, which will be of great interest to the flexible electronics industry.
Heterostructures comprising of silicon (Si), molybdenum disulfide (MoS${_2}$) and graphene are investigated with respect to the vertical current conduction mechanism. The measured current-voltage (I-V) characteristics exhibit temperature dependent asymmetric current, indicating thermally activated charge carrier transport. The data is compared and fitted to a current transport model that confirms thermionic emission as the responsible transport mechanism across the devices. Theoretical calculations in combination with the experimental data suggest that the heterojunction barrier from Si to MoS${_2}$ is linearly temperature dependent for T = 200 to 300 K with a positive temperature coefficient. The temperature dependence may be attributed to a change in band gap difference between Si and MoS${_2}$, strain at the Si/MoS${_2}$ interface or different electron effective masses in Si and MoS${_2}$, leading to a possible entropy change stemming from variation in density of states as electrons move from Si to MoS${_2}$. The low barrier formed between Si and MoS${_2}$ and the resultant thermionic emission demonstrated here makes the present devices potential candidates as the emitter diode of graphene-base hot electron transistors for future high-speed electronics.