What is a MOSFET and How does it work?

MOSFET, in short, is a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect

transistor used to switch or amplify voltages in circuits. Being part of
the field-effect transistor family, it is a current-controlled device that is
constructed with 3 terminals;

• Source

• Gate

• Drain

The purpose of a MOSFET transistor is essentially to control

voltage/current flow between the source and the drain.

The working principle differs based on the type of MOSFET.

 Working Principle of MOSFET

To understand how MOSFET transistors work, we’ll take a look at

a typical circuit diagram as follows:

 A block, also known as a substrate of p-type semiconductor acts

as the base for MOSFET

 Two sides on this p-type substrate are made highly doped with
an n-type impurity (marked as n+)

 The drain terminals (Source and Drain) are then brought out
from these two end regions

 The entire surface of the substrate is coated with a layer of

silicon dioxide

 Silicon dioxide acts as insulation

 Working Principle of MOSFET

 A thin insulated metallic plate is then placed on top of the silicon dioxide,
acting as a capacitor plate

 The gate terminal is then brought out from the thin metallic plate

 A DC circuit is then formed by connecting a voltage source between these

two n-type regions (marked in red in the image)

 When voltage is applied at the gate, it generates an electrical field that

changes the width of the channel region, where the electrons flow. The
wider the channel region, the better conductivity of a device will be.
 Types of MOSFET and functions

There are two classes of MOSFETS;

• Depletion Mode, and
• Enhancement mode.

Each class is available as n-channel or p-channel, tallying up to four

types of MOSFETs in total!

Here are its explanation, alongside the working principle:

Depletion Mode:
•Depletion mode tends to be referred to as a normally closed switch
• It states that when there’s no voltage applied at the gate,
channel conductance is at its maximum
• When voltage is applied at the gate, The conductivity of the
device decreases
 Types of MOSFET and functions

Enhancement Mode:
•Enhancement mode tends to be referred to as a normally open switch, where for conductance to occur,
voltage is needed to pass-through
• When there’s no voltage applied at the gate, there’s no conductance
• When voltage is applied at the gate, the conductivity of the device increases

N-Channel MOSFET:
•The drain and the source are doped with n+ impurity while the substrate is in p-type
•The current flows through the P-channel MOSFET
•When a positive voltage is applied on the gate, the electrons from the n+ source and the drain region are
attracted towards it, forming an electron reach channel

P-Channel MOSFET:
•Unlike the N-channel, the drain and the source are doped with p+ impurity while the substrate is in n-
type
•The current flows through the P-channel MOSFET
•When a negative voltage is applied on the gate, the electrons underneath the sulfur oxide respond to the
flow of current and get pushed downwards into the substrate