Wafer-scale fabrication of separated carbon nanotube thin-film transistors for display applications

Nano Lett. 2009 Dec;9(12):4285-91. doi: 10.1021/nl902522f.

Abstract

Preseparated, semiconductive enriched carbon nanotubes hold great potential for thin-film transistors and display applications due to their high mobility, high percentage of semiconductive nanotubes, and room-temperature processing compatibility. Here in this paper, we report our progress on wafer-scale processing of separated nanotube thin-film transistors (SN-TFTs) for display applications, including key technology components such as wafer-scale assembly of high-density, uniform separated nanotube networks, high-yield fabrication of devices with superior performance, and demonstration of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) switching controlled by a SN-TFT. On the basis of separated nanotubes with 95% semiconductive nanotubes, we have achieved solution-based assembly of separated nanotube thin films on complete 3 in. Si/SiO(2) wafers, and further carried out wafer-scale fabrication to produce transistors with high yield (>98%), small sheet resistance ( approximately 25 kOmega/sq), high current density ( approximately 10 microA/microm), and superior mobility ( approximately 52 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)). Moreover, on/off ratios of >10(4) are achieved in devices with channel length L > 20 microm. In addition, OLED control circuit has been demonstrated with the SN-TFT, and the modulation in the output light intensity exceeds 10(4). Our approach can be easily scaled to large areas and could serve as critical foundation for future nanotube-based display electronics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Data Display*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties
  • Transistors, Electronic*

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Nanotubes, Carbon