Evaluation of sub-0.2 V high-speed low-power circuits using hetero-channel MOSFET and tunneling FET devices

This paper investigates the feasibility of sub-0.2 V high-speed low-power circuits with hetero-channel MOSFET and emerging Tunneling FET (TFET) devices. First, the device designs and characteristics of hetero-channel MOSFET and TFET devices are discussed and compared. Due to the significant leakage current of ultra-low V_T hetero-channel MOSFET devices, assist-circuits are required for hetero-channel MOSFET-based circuits to operate at 0.2 V. Second, the delay, dynamic energy and the Standby power of hetero-channel TFET-based and MOSFET-based logic circuits including Inverter, NAND, BUS Driver, and Latch are analyzed and evaluated. The results indicate that hetero-channel TFET-based circuits with Dual Oxide (DOX) device design to reduce the Miller capacitance provide the potential to achieve high-speed low-power operation at V_DD=0.2V, while the use of assist-circuits in MOSFET-based design improves the delay and dynamic energy at the expense of increased device count, circuit area, and large Standby and sleep-mode leakage power. Finally, the impacts of temperature and process variations on TFET-based and MOSFET-based logic circuits are discussed.