Electronic – In an nMOS, how does applying Vdd to the gate attract electrons forming a channel

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i've been trying to get my head around roughly how nMOS's work, this diagram has really been confusing me:

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Now from what i understand, at first electrons cannot flow from source to drain due to the depletion layer that is formed, effectively creating a diode that is reverse biased. When turning the gate on, it attracts the electrons near the gate's electric field, shrinking the depletion layer and creating a channel which electrons can flow. However, what does not make sense to me is that if a voltage is applied to the gate won't it be negatively charged? Therefore repelling electrons? I feel like i'm missing something obvious.

Best Answer

As part (b) shows, when you apply a positive voltage to the gate, then it will have a positive charge. This positive charge attracts electrons to the area so that they can make the "jump" from drain to source.

Note: The electrons would flow to the gate if it weren't for the "Metal Oxide" in the Semiconductor layer, which insulates the gate from the substrate and the source and drain.

This area in the substrate where the electrons are attracted is called the channel. The more positive voltage applied to the gate (higher voltage), the larger( stronger potential and larger in size ) the field in the area known as the channel. Thus allowing more electrons to flow from the drain through the channel and to the source.

PS. I know that electrons actually come from the source, but we like to think of things in positive terms for simplicity. The math is the same.