Fermi-Level Pinning Mechanism in MoS2 Field-Effect Transistors Developed by Thermionic Emission Theory

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field-effect transistors (FETs) with four different metallic electrodes (Au,Ag,Al,Cu) of drain-source were fabricated by mechanical exfoliation and vacuum evaporation methods. The mobilities of the devices were (Au) 21.01, (Ag) 23.15, (Al) 5.35 and (Cu) 40.52 cm2/Vs, respectively. Unpredictably, the on-state currents of four devices were of the same order of magnitude with no obvious difference. For clarifying this phenomenon, we calculated the Schottky barrier height (SBH) of the four metal–semiconductor contacts by thermionic emission theory and confirmed the existence of Fermi-level pinning (FLP). We suppose the FLP may be caused by surface states of the semiconductor produced from crystal defects.