Epitaxial Graphene on SiC for Ultra-high Frequency Transistors

ORAL

Abstract

Electronic devices and systems operating at ultra-high frequencies have recently generated significant interest. Graphene is considered a promising candidate material for high-frequency electronics, due to its intrinsic low dimensionality, high carrier mobility and large carrier velocity. Field effect transistors made of exfoliated graphene flakes as the channel material have shown cut-off frequency (f$_{\mathrm{T}})$ above 400 GHz. However, the maximum oscillation frequency (f$_{\mathrm{max}})$ of graphene transistors, which sets the practical limit on useful circuit operation, to date have not exceeded 45 GHz. We report here record intrinsic f$_{\mathrm{max}}$ of 70 GHz, with f$_{\mathrm{T}}$ exceeding 100 GHz, for transistors based on epitaxial graphene on SiC. In addition to setting a new performance record for graphene technology, these epitaxial graphene transistors were fabricated using well-developed, robust, top-down processes compatible with a mass-production-compatible platform.

*This research was supported by the W. M. Keck Foundation, the AFSOR grant No. FA9550-10-1-0367, and the NSF MRSEC Program under Grant No. DMR-0820382.

Authors

  • Zelei Guo

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Rui Dong

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Partha Sarathi Chakraborty

    • School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Nelson Lourenco

    • School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • James Palmer

    • Georgia Institute of Technology
    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Yike Hu

    • School of Physics, Georgia Tech
    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Ming Ruan

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • John Hankinson

    • Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Physics
    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Jan Kunc

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • John Cressler

    • School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Claire Berger

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Walt deHeer

    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology