Girish Pahwa

Compact Model for Ferroelectric Negative Capacitance Transistor With MFIS Structure

We present a physics-based compact model for a ferroelectric negative capacitance FET (NCFET) with a metal–ferroelectric–insulator–semiconductor (MFIS) structure. The model is computationally efficient, and it accurately calculates the gate charge density as a function of the applied voltages. For the first time, an explicit expression for the channel current in bulk NCFET is also deduced taking into account the spatial variation of ferroelectric polarization in the longitudinal direction. Using current continuity condition in the channel, we find that different regions of the ferroelectric may operate in a positive or a negative capacitance state depending on the external biases. The model captures the impact of ferroelectric thickness scaling and variation in the ferroelectric material parameters, and has been validated against the implicit approach involving full numerical computations as well as experimental data. We also compare the device characteristics of the MFIS structure with those of the metal–ferroelectric–metal–insulator–semiconductor structure.

Analysis and Compact Modeling of Negative Capacitance Transistor with High ON-Current and Negative Output Differential Resistance—Part I: Model Description

We present an accurate and computationally efficient physics-based compact model to quantitatively analyze negative capacitance FET (NCFET) for real circuit design applications. Our model is based on the Landau-Khalatnikov equation coupled to the standard BSIM6 MOSFET model and implemented in Verilog-A. It includes transient and temperature effects, and accurately captures different aspects of NCFET. A comprehensive quasi-static analysis of NCFET in its different regions of operation is also performed using a simpler loadline approach. We also analyze the impact of ferroelectric and gate oxide thicknesses on the performance gain of NCFET over MOSFET.

Performance Evaluation of 7-nm Node Negative Capacitance FinFET-Based SRAM

We compare the performance of static random access memory (SRAM) cells based on negative capacitance (NC) FinFETs and reference FinFETs at the 7-nm technology node. We use a physics-based model for NC FinFETswhere we couple the Landau–Khalatnikovmodel of ferroelectric materials with the standard BSIM-CMG model of FinFET. For the reference FinFETs, we use the predictive model parameters optimized for SRAM design as per the ASAP7 PDK. We exploit the unique characteristics of NC-FinFETs and demonstrate that for ferroelectric thickness below a critical value, SRAMs with higher hold and read stability, better write-ability, lower leakage as well as faster read access time can be designed at the cost of increased write delay.