Devices based on random conduction with in plane gates: a possibility for three-dimensional integration

Electrical conduction in chaotic media near the percolation threshold is investigated by means of Monte Carlo techniques. The main target is to demonstrate the possibility of modulating the conduction of a chaotic film by means of lateral gate electrodes fabricated in the plane of the film. Exponential variations in the conductivity due to the modification of random paths in the chaotic film can be exploited for the realization of devices with high on/off ratio. In this work it is demonstrated that despite the chaotic conduction driven by charge hopping between localized sites, an almost deterministic behavior can be obtained for suitable site concentrations. Transistors based on this concept could be realized on different layers, on the same substrate, with technologies similar to those actually used for conventional integrated circuits: this would make possible an effective three-dimensional integration of devices and circuits.