Enhanced performance of GeSn source-pocket tunnel field-effect transistors for low-power applications

Germanium-tin (GeSn) source-pocket tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) are comprehensively investigated by numerical device simulations at low supply voltages. Device configurations with homo- and hetero-tunneling junctions (TJ) are analyzed and compared. It is shown that direct-gap GeSn alloys are favorable for increasing the source-pocket tunneling rate. Increasing the source Sn composition of the device may aid the on-state current increase, but the subthreshold swing (SS) is degraded because of the reduced band gap. At ultrascaled supply voltages, the GeSn hetero-TJ TFET with higher pocket Sn composition exhibits the best performance and SS, and the device performance can be further improved by increasing the Sn composition in the pocket region. These simulation results could be used to understand and optimize the performance of GeSn source-pocket TFETs, which are very promising electronic devices for low-power applications. (C) 2016 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.