A carbon-based field effect transistor (FET) includes a substrate; a carbon layer located on the substrate, the carbon layer comprising a channel region, and source and drain regions located on either side of the channel region; a gate electrode located on the channel region in the carbon layer, the gate electrode comprising a first dielectric layer, a gate metal layer located on the first dielectric layer, and a nitride layer located on the gate metal layer; and a spacer comprising a second dielectric layer located adjacent to the gate electrode, wherein the spacer is not located on the carbon layer.