Carbon Nanotube Network Thin-film Transistors for High-performance Flexible Electronics

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are unique because they are one-dimensional wires composed entirely of surface atoms yet exhibit high carrier mobilities (~10 10 cm/Vs). These extraordinary transport properties make them an ideal material for electronic applications, while their virtually infinite surface-to-volume ratio offers the possibility of extraordinary sensitivity for sensor applications. However, two main obstacles prevent their immediate commercial implementation: 1.) SWNTs as grown are a mixture of semiconducting and metallic nanotubes (depending on the helicity of the graphene sheet forming the nanotube wall), and there is no reliable technique presently available to separate them by electronic type; and 2.) it is difficult to assemble large numbers of SWNTs into precisely controlled positions. Because of these obstacles, SWNT-based devices and sensors have remained largely in the realm of impressive laboratory curiosities with limited applications.