This breakthrough innovation can overcome temperature problems for source gated transistors and produce flexible, low-cost displays
(Nanowerk NewsInexpensive and flexible screens that use very little energy could be one step closer, thanks to innovation from the University of Surrey that solves the problem that plagues the source gate transistor (SGT).
SGT is not widely used because current designs have problems with how their performance changes with temperature. To solve this problem, scientists from the University of Surrey have developed a new design for the part of the transistor called the source. They have proposed adding a very thin layer of insulating material at the source contacts to change the way electric charges flow.
This study has been published by IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (“Evidence of Improved Thermal Stability through Nanoscale Contact Engineering in Source-Gated IGZO Thin Film Transistors”).
Dr Radu Sporea, project leader from the University of Surrey, said: “We used a rapidly emerging semiconductor material called IGZO or indium-gallium-zinc oxide to create the next generation of source-gated transistors. Through nanoscale contact engineering, we obtained the transistor which is much more stable with temperature than previous attempts. Device simulation allowed us to understand this effect.
“This new design adds temperature stability to the SGT and maintains the usual benefits such as using low power, producing high signal amplification, and being more reliable in different conditions. While source gate transistors are not mainstream due to a handful of performance limitations, we continue to eliminate their drawbacks .”
A source-gated transistor (SGT) is a special type of transistor that combines two of the basic components of electronics – a thin-film transistor and a carefully engineered metal-semiconductor contact. It has many advantages over traditional transistors, including using less power and being more stable. SGT is suitable for large area electronics and is a promising candidate for use in fields such as medicine, engineering and computing.
Salman Alfarisyi conducted a simulation at the University of Surrey as part of his final year undergraduate project. Salman said: “Source gate transistors can be the building blocks for new flexible power-efficient electronics technologies that help meet our energy needs without harming the health of our planet. For example, their signal sensing and amplification capabilities make it easy to recommend them as key elements for interacting medical devices. with our whole body, allowing us to better understand human health.”
