Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
50
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Demonstrating the Electro-Thermal Dynamics in Complementary FETs: Quantifying the Role of Self-Heating and Grain Effect Intercoupling Sandeep Kumar, Deven H. Patil, Sunil Rathore, S. Dasgupta, Navjeet Bagga IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 2026 The vertical stacking of sheets and separating them by a dielectric raises severe thermal and geometrical reliability concerns in the complementary field effect transistor (CFET). Using well-calibrated TCAD models, we investigated the impact of the self-heating effect (SHE) and the role of dielectric separation wall (D<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">SW</sub>) in electro-thermal coupling. The resulting thermal crosstalk due to D<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">SW</sub> shows an increase in temperature of 2.09% (1.60%) at the pFET (nFET) when nFET (pFET) is in the <sc xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">on</small> state. Furthermore, the metal grain granularity (MGG) is a vital factor that affects the electro-thermal characteristics. It offers the randomized metal work function (WF), thereby significantly causing the shift in threshold voltage (V<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</sub>). A semi-empirical model is proposed to define the ratio of effective grain size to gate (RGG) area, which provides insight into the grain boundaries and their optimization in CFET. In addition, the significance of the extension region (L<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EXT</sub>) in electro-thermal performance is explored, as L<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EXT</sub> offers series resistance, which modulates thermal resistance. The increase in L<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EXT</sub> from 3 to 7 nm results in decreased lattice temperature (T<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">L</sub>) by ~29 K; however, it increases the series resistance and causes the decrease in <sc xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">on</small> current (I<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ON</sub>) by 28% (25%) in nFET (pFET). At last, we predicted the device’s lifetime based on V<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</sub> shift (i.e., change in V<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${}_{\text {th}}= \pm 50$</tex-math> </inline-formula> mV). Thus, the proposed analysis is worth exploring for the reliability-aware CFET design in sub-3 nm nodes.
A Novel Latch Reset Technique Enabling Sub- 6 μ ~W Operation in Double-Tail Comparator Aditya Dubey, Sunil Rathore, Navjeet Bagga Proceedings 2026 39th International Conference on VLSI Design and 25th International Conference on Embedded Systems Vlsid 2026, 2026 The comparators are crucial components in data converters, e.g., analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), sensors, and control systems to enable rapid binary decisions derived from specific thresholds in analog signals. This paper proposes a novel latch reset technique for a double-tail comparator to attain lowpower operations. To reset the latch, the additional pull-up (PMOS) transistors are included in the pre-amplifier stage, which are switched by the derived clock signal (MCLKB) from the baseline clock (CLK). The delayed version, i.e., MCLKB, resets the latch to <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$V_{D d}$</tex>. Therefore, the proposed method enhances the energy efficiency of the comparator by minimizing dynamic power consumption. Using optimized timing and control of the latch stage, the simulation has been performed for the <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{4 5 ~ n m}$</tex> CMOS process, demonstrating that the comparator achieves a power consumption of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$5.85 \mu ~\mathrm{W}$</tex> at a 1 V supply. Monte-Carlo simulation has been done for 200 samples, showing the average power distribution with a standard deviation of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$0.8 \mu ~\mathrm{W}$</tex>. The effective layout area of the proposed design is <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$60 \mu ~\mathrm{m}^{2}$</tex>. Thus, the proposed technique is needed to design the low-power analog front ends.
Statistical Analysis of Metal Grain Granularities Induced Variability in 4T Complementary FET SRAM Cell Deven H Patil, Sandeep Kumar, Sunil Rathore, S. Dasgupta, Navjeet Bagga 10th IEEE Electron Devices Technology and Manufacturing Conference Emerging Semiconductor Devices and Manufacturing Technologies Edtm 2026, 2026 Complementary FETs (CFETs) vertically stack n– and p–FETs to achieve superior scaling; however, the confined gate metal thickness induces Metal Grain Granularity (MGG)–related workfunction fluctuations. Using well-calibrated TCAD simulations, this proposed study investigates: (i) the impact of MGG on threshold voltage deviation (σV<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</inf>), (ii) its influence on the static behavior of a 1T CFET inverter, and (iii) the resulting variability in the static noise margin (SNM) of a 4T CFET SRAM cell. The random grain orientations and boundaries yield σV<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</inf> of ~10 mV (nFET) and ~9 mV (pFET), resulting in a ±13.2 mV shift in inverter switching threshold (V<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">M</inf>) for a 2 nm average grain size (G<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">r</inf>). Consequently, MGG-induced variability significantly degrades SRAM stability, with σSNM rising from 5 mV to 26.3 mV (Read) and from 8.3 mV to 39.7 mV (Hold) when G<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">r</inf> varied from 2 to 8nm. This indicates enhanced variability from reduced boundary averaging, with the Hold state showing greater deviation due to node isolation and positive feedback effects. Furthermore, histograms, QQ plots, and correlation plots have been used to determine the symmetry/non-symmetry of the left/right inverters in the designed 4T CFET SRAM cell. Thus, the proposed study provides a holistic insight into developing a variability-aware CFET SRAM cell.
Analytical Model of Resistivity Modulation and Assessing Temporal Dynamics of Complementary FET influenced by α-Particle Radiation Sandeep Kumar, Khushi Jain, Deven H Patil, Sunil Rathore, S. Dasgupta, Navjeet Bagga 10th IEEE Electron Devices Technology and Manufacturing Conference Emerging Semiconductor Devices and Manufacturing Technologies Edtm 2026, 2026 The high-energy radiation causes severe reliability and operational challenges in logic devices, as it generates electron-hole pairs (EHPs) upon colliding with the device and alters its effective resistivity/conductivity. This work proposes an analytical model for resistivity modulation and temporal analysis of Complementary FET (CFET) affected by α-particle radiation. In a well-calibrated TCAD setup, the device under test (DUT) is designed and exposed to a 500keV α-particle at different regions. The peak activation of EHP is observed when a strike happens at the drain extension region (D<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EXT</inf>). In addition, the angle of incidence (AoI) plays a crucial role in EHP generation/recombination (e.g., an AoI of 90° at D<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EXT</inf> leads to a 14.68% increase in OFF current compared to an AoI of 30°). The linear energy transfer (LET) effects are confirmed as the total current density increases by 0.87 kA/cm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> when the radiation energy increases from 100 keV to 500 keV. To capture the resistivity modulation due to α-radiation, we proposed an analytical model for CFET resistance using the transmission line method (TLM). The proposed model aligns with TCAD results within < 5% error, establishing a reliable framework for investigating the α-radiation-induced reliability concerns in CFET technology.
Unveiling Gate Leakage Dynamics in Nanosheet FETs at Cryogenic Temperature: A TCAD Study Prabhat Singh, Malvika, Mohd. Shakir, Sandeep Kumar, Sunil Rathore, Navjeet Bagga, S. Dasgupta 10th IEEE Electron Devices Technology and Manufacturing Conference Emerging Semiconductor Devices and Manufacturing Technologies Edtm 2026, 2026 In this paper, we investigate the gate-leakage mechanism at cryogenic temperature (CT) in the Nanosheet FET (NSFET) using well-calibrated TCAD models. Using the Global TCAD Solution (GTS) tool, the carrier transport at cryogenic temperatures could be precisely captured by the Quasi-Fermi Transport (QFT) model. However, for evaluating gate leakage or OFF current, two possible models are available, i.e., the Tsu-Esaki and Fowler-Nordheim models, which require careful attention for accurate simulation. Thus, this study aims to explore the underlying behavior of the Cryo-NSFET characteristics with an appropriate modeling setup. As the temperature decreases to a deep-cryogenic range, the Fermi-Dirac distribution, i.e., the Fermi tail, becomes narrower, implying that fewer carriers have high energy, and thermal-assisted tunneling decreases. This results in a reduction in gate leakage current at all gate voltages. Our findings indicate that under CT, the absence of thermal excitation results in a shift in the transport mechanism to quantum tunneling. Additionally, gate tunneling is enhanced by a higher drain bias, which allows for the control of the potential barrier profile.
On the Reliability of Complementary Field Effect Transistor: Unveiling the Role of Grain Granularities and Random Fluctuations Sandeep Kumar, Deven H Patil, Sunil Rathore, Ankit Dixit, Naveen Kumar, Vihar Georgiev, S. Dasgupta, Navjeet Bagga IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability, 2026 This study presents a comprehensive statistical reliability analysis of monolithic Complementary Field Effect Transistors (CFETs), focusing on the impact of process-induced variations. The analysis highlights key sources of variability, including Metal Gate Granularity (MGG), Poly Grain Granularity (PGG), Random Dopant Fluctuation (RDF), and Line Edge Roughness (LER). In smaller geometries, the gate metal (or poly-gate) grain granularities play a significant role in threshold voltage (V<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</sub>) variations, raising severe reliability concerns. Through calibrated statistical TCAD simulations, the ON current (I<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ON</sub>) variation of 2.82 μA (2.85 μA) is observed in the nFET (pFET) side of CFET, due to MGG for experimentally reported 5 nm grain size. In advanced technologies like high bandwidth memory (HBM), the gate is made of polysilicon that suffers from the PGG in sub-3 nm node devices. The observed coefficient-of-variance (CV) of pFET (2.19) is higher than nFET (1.45), which shows higher variability in pFET due to poly grain size variations. Further, the process-induced RDF and LER significantly alter the V<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</sub>. Random numbers are generated by doping atoms in the Voronoi volume of each vertex to quantify the undoped and doped channels to statistically analyze the RDF. In contrast to a doped channel with σV<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</sub> of 9 mV (7 mV) for nFET (pFET), the undoped scenario yields a default standard deviation (σV<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">th</sub>) of 2 mV. To characterize LER, correlation length (Λ) is a prime factor; as Λ approaches the sheet width, CV increases by 24.32% (37.22%) in nFET (pFET). Thus, the results underscore the need for stringent control over grain morphology, doping precision, and edge definition to ensure reliable CFET performance.
Analytical Model of Subthreshold Swing for Cryogenic-CMOS Considering Temperature Dependent Slope Factor Mohd. Shakir, N. Bagga, Y. Tiwari, Malvika, P. Singh, S. Rathore, S. Ranjan, S. Dasgupta 10th IEEE Electron Devices Technology and Manufacturing Conference Emerging Semiconductor Devices and Manufacturing Technologies Edtm 2026, 2026 Assessing the subthreshold behavior of the transistor is crucially important at cryogenic temperatures for the realization of quantum-compatible electronics. In the cryogenic regime, traditional thermal models fail to capture anomalies in the subthreshold region, such as band-tail states, incomplete dopant ionization, source-to-drain tunneling (SDT), and interface traps, thereby strongly influencing the subthreshold swing (SS). This work presents a semi-empirical temperature-dependent slope factor (n) model for a 28nm industry-standard bulk MOSFET, capturing the combined effects of thermionic emission, trap-assisted conduction, and SDT. The calibration and validation of the model are performed using the GTS TCAD tool, with a temperature ranging from 298 to 4.2K. Moreover, the SS behavior of the baseline Cryo-CMOS is investigated with various parameters, including channel length, substrate doping, and oxide thickness, which gives a clear insight into the device design guidelines for deep-cryogenic temperatures.
Self-Heating Induced Differential Resistance in Complementary FET: The Role of Dielectric Insulation in Thermal Dynamics Sandeep Kumar, Deven H. Patil, Sunil Rathore, S. Dasgupta, Navjeet Bagga IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 2025 The heat flux confined within the sheets or channels, i.e., between the gate dielectric and across the dielectric sidewall (D<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">SW</sub>), engenders a severe self-heating effect (SHE) in stacked transistors like Complementary FETs (CFETs). This heat accumulation due to SHE reduces the velocity and mobility of charge carriers in the channel region, resulting in the negative differential resistance (NDR). This paper extensively provides insight into SHE in CFETs using a first-principles approach, i.e., from the fundamental current equation. In a conventional case, the carrier mobility, carrier concentration, velocity, and threshold voltage are temperature-dependent parameters; however, with SHE, the current (I<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">DS</sub>) is also drain-voltage (V<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">DS</sub>) dependent. Using well-calibrated TCAD models, we demonstrate the electrical and thermal characteristics of the CFET by extracting the I<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">DS</sub> gradient as a function of temperature. We also investigated the CFET performance of the device under various parametric conditions, including channel width (W<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CH</sub>), channel thickness (T<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CH</sub>), and extension length (L<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EXT</sub>), and explained the significance of the dielectric layer in heat coupling across the D<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">SW</sub>. The design guidelines for optimal W<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CH</sub>, T<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CH</sub>, and L<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EXT</sub> are presented, considering I<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ON</sub>/C<sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">gg</sub> and intrinsic RC delay, as figure-of-merits. Henceforth, the proposed work underscores the importance of integrated electrical and thermal evaluations in establishing a robust framework for reliable and energy-efficient CFET architectures.
Noise Analysis in FinFET-based Analog Circuit with Technology Scaling Mallikarjun Patil, Rajeewa Kumar Jaisawal, Shashank Banchhor, Navneet Gandhi, Navjeet Bagga, Sunil Rathore, P. N. Kondekar Proceedings of 5th International Conference on 2023 Devices for Integrated Circuit Devic 2023, 2023