arXiv · 0908.2479
Detection of a single-charge defect in a metal-oxide-semiconductor structure using vertically coupled Al and Si single-electron transistors
Abstract
An Al-AlO_x-Al single-electron transistor (SET) acting as the gate of a narrow (~ 100 nm) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) can induce a vertically aligned Si SET at the Si/SiO_2 interface near the MOSFET channel conductance threshold. By using such a vertically coupled Al and Si SET system, we have detected a single-charge defect which is tunnel-coupled to the Si SET. By solving a simple electrostatic model, the fractions of each coupling capacitance associated with the defect are extracted. The results reveal that the defect is not a large puddle or metal island, but its size is rather small, corresponding to a sphere with a radius less than 1 nm. The small size of the defect suggests it is most likely a single-charge trap at the Si/SiO_2 interface. Based on the ratios of the coupling capacitances, the interface trap is estimated to be about 20 nm away from the Si SET.
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L. Sun, B. E. Kane. 2009-08-18. Detection of a single-charge defect in a metal-oxide-semiconductor structure using vertically coupled Al and Si single-electron transistors. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.80.153310
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