In electronics

Electronics

Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...

, a native transistor (or sometimes natural transistor) is a variety of the MOS field-effect transistor

MOSFET

The metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor is a transistor used for amplifying or switching electronic signals. The basic principle of this kind of transistor was first patented by Julius Edgar Lilienfeld in 1925...

 that is intermediate between enhancement and depletion modes. Most common is the n-channel native transistor.

Historically, native transistors were referred to as MOSFET

MOSFET

The metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor is a transistor used for amplifying or switching electronic signals. The basic principle of this kind of transistor was first patented by Julius Edgar Lilienfeld in 1925...

s without specially grown oxide,
only natural thin oxide film formed over silicon during processing of other layers.

A native MOSFET

MOSFET

The metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor is a transistor used for amplifying or switching electronic signals. The basic principle of this kind of transistor was first patented by Julius Edgar Lilienfeld in 1925...

 is a transistor with nearly zero Threshold voltage

Threshold voltage

The threshold voltage of a MOSFET is usually defined as the gate voltage where an inversion layer forms at the interface between the insulating layer and the substrate of the transistor. The purpose of the inversion layer's forming is to allow the flow of electrons through the gate-source junction...

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Native n-channel transistors have a niche applications in low-voltage operational amplifier

Operational amplifier

An operational amplifier is a DC-coupled high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a single-ended output...

s and in low-voltage digital memory, where it
functions as the weak pull-down. It also used in low-voltage interface circuits.

The main disadvantages of the native transistors is the larger size due to additional doping mask, and sometimes lower transconductance

Transconductance

Transconductance, also known as mutual conductance, is a property of certain electronic components. Conductance is the reciprocal of resistance; transconductance, meanwhile, is the ratio of the current change at the output port to the voltage change at the input port. It is written as gm...

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Typical minimal size of the native N-channel MOSFET

MOSFET

The metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor is a transistor used for amplifying or switching electronic signals. The basic principle of this kind of transistor was first patented by Julius Edgar Lilienfeld in 1925...

 (NMOS) gate is 2-3 times longer and wider than standard Threshold voltage

Threshold voltage

The threshold voltage of a MOSFET is usually defined as the gate voltage where an inversion layer forms at the interface between the insulating layer and the substrate of the transistor. The purpose of the inversion layer's forming is to allow the flow of electrons through the gate-source junction...

transistor.
The cost of chips including native transistors is also increased because of the additional doping operations.