Effect of Lateral Body Terminal on Silicon–Oxide–Nitride–Oxide–Silicon Thin-Film Transistors

We investigate lateral-body-terminal silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon thin-film transistors (LBT SONOS TFTs) under erasing operation. These devices have superior erasing efficiency by gate as well as lateral body electrode exerting bias. The erasing mechanism of LBT SONOS TFTs has been illustrated by the energy band diagrams. Holes gain sufficient energy by the electric field in the deep-depletion region to surmount the tunneling oxide barrier because of exerting body bias under erasing operation. In addition, the lateral body terminal exerting bias can enhance the erasing efficiency and is confirmed by different erasing conditions and structures. In addition, to verify the hole current injecting from the lateral body site, the size effect of LBT SONOS TFTs is also discussed.