Spray-coated carbon nanotube thin-film transistors with striped transport channels

Nanotechnology. 2012 Dec 21;23(50):505203. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/23/50/505203. Epub 2012 Nov 26.

Abstract

We present results for the transfer characteristics of carbon nanotube thin-film transistors (CNT-TFTs) that utilize single-walled carbon nanotube thin-films prepared by direct spray-coating on the substrate. By varying the number of spray-coatings (N(sp)) and the concentration of nanotubes in solution (C(NT)), it was possible to control the conductivity of the spray-coated nanotube thin-film from 129 to 0.1 kΩ/□. Also, by introducing stripes into the channel of the CNT-TFT, and thereby reducing the number of metallic percolation paths between source and drain, it was possible to enhance the on/off current ratio 1000-fold, from 10 to 10(4), demonstrating that it may be possible to utilize spray-coating as a method to fabricate CNT-TFTs for large area switching array applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't