A transistor includes a semiconductor channel disposed nearby a gate and in an electrical path between a source and a drain, wherein the channel and at least one of the source or the drain are separated by an interface layer so as to form a channel-interface layer-source/drain junction in which a Fermi level of the semiconductor channel is depinned in a region near the junction and the junction has a specific contact resistance of less than approximately 1000 Ω-μm2. The interface layer may include a passivating material such as a nitride, a fluoride, an oxide, an oxynitride, a hydride and/or an arsenide of the semiconductor of the channel. In some cases, the interface layer consists essentially of a monolayer configured to depin the Fermi level of the semiconductor of the channel, or an amount of passivation material sufficient to terminate all or a sufficient number of dangling bonds of the semiconductor channel to achieve chemical stability of the surface. Also, the interface layer may include a separation layer of a material different than the passivating material. Where used, the separation layer has a thickness sufficient to reduce effects of metal-induced gap states in the semiconductor channel.