MOSFET is an acronym meaning ‘metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor', a type of transistor device that's controlled by a capacitor and behaves very much like a switch when installed as part of a powered circuit.
The purpose of a MOSFET is chiefly to control the flow of current passing from a source to the drain terminals, which it does by switching or amplifying electronic signals as they pass through.
What types of MOSFETS are available, and what roles do they perform?
There are various types and modes of MOSFET sold on today's market, including N-Channel and P-Channel (defined by the type of ‘doped' silicon they're made with), running in either depletion or enhancement modes.
- N-Channel MOSFETS are the more popular and commonly used channel type
- N-Channel MOSFETS are loosely defined as MOSFETS that contain additional electrons which are free to move around N-Channel MOSFETs work when a positive charge is applied to the gate terminal
- By contrast, the substrate of a P-Channel MOSFET contains both electrons and electron ‘holes'
- This type of transistor only turns on when the voltage supplied to the gate terminal is lower than the source voltage
- An N-Channel MOSFET or P-Channel MOSFET running in depletion mode will function similarly to a closed switch, allowing current flow through until a negative voltage is applied; enhancement mode MOSFETS are more widely used, and their basic function is something like that of a variable resistor
We work with a great many leading manufacturers and brands to source all our transistors, semiconductors and other electrical engineering components, including:
- DiodesZetex
- Infineon
- IXYS
- MagnaChip
- Nexperia
- ON Semiconductor
- Panasonic
- ROHM
- STMicroelectronics
- Taiwan Semiconductor
- Texas Instruments
- Toshiba
- Vishay
