The analytical model of frequency response and bandwidth for coupled multilayer graphene nanoribbon interconnects

Abstract This paper applies the multilayer graphene nanoribbons (MLGNR) as a prospective candidate material to replace the conventional copper (Cu) for next generation on-chip interconnects. Based on the equivalent single conductor (ESC) modeling, a distributed transmission line model for coupled MLGNR interconnects is presented to obtain the transfer gain and 3-dB bandwidth at the global level of 14 nm technology node, which take the in-phase and out-of-phase crosstalk modes into consideration, and verified with the Hspice simulation. It is demonstrated that the MLGNR and Cu interconnects under in-phase mode have a larger transfer gain and a wider 3-dB bandwidth than that under out-of-phase mode, and MLGNR interconnects can more effectively improve the transfer gain and 3-dB bandwidth compared with Cu interconnects at the same conditions. The numerical calculation results show that, decreasing interconnect temperature, increasing line space and increasing driver and load sizes are efficient ways to enhance the transfer gain and 3-dB bandwidth for MLGNR and Cu interconnects. Moreover, the top contact MLGNR (TC-MLGNR) also can be used as an emerging material for on-chip interconnects to replace the conventional Cu. In addition, it is found that the results obtained by the proposed model are in good matching with Hspice simulation and the maximum relative deviation for them is less than 4%, meanwhile the efficiency of CPU runtime is improved over 90% by using the proposed model, as compared to Hspice simulation. The results presented in this paper would be useful to design the on-chip interconnects with better bandwidth characteristics.