Transfer Printed Parallel Carbon Nanotube Devices

ORAL

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) device properties can be improved by increasing the density and alignment of tubes and avoiding the problems associated with random networks. We are optimizing this approach by preparing devices composed of parallel arrays of CNTs fabricated on quartz and plastic substrates. CNT growth catalysts, ferric nitrate, ferritin and iron, are a point of control of the density and degree of alignment of the grown tubes. Though ferric nitrate produced a denser network, ferritin allows a high degree of alignment, and iron will also be tested. Plastic devices with a 5 $\mu $m channel length and a 22.5 mm width were prepared with approximately 1 channel crossing tube per 4$\mu $m of width. The density is improved by repeatedly printing more CNT's to the same area. The metallic tubes were removed by selective electrical breakdown, marginally increasing the on/off current ratio while decreasing the On current from 800$\mu $A to 450$\mu $A (at Vgs=-20V, Vds=-10V). Results from optimized devices prepared with patterned iron as the growth catalyst will also be presented.

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Authors

  • Andrew Tunnell

    University of Maryland

  • Vinod Sangwan

    Laboratory of Physical Sciences (LPS), CNAM,, and DOP, UM, University of Maryland

  • Vincent Ballarotto

    University of Maryland

  • Daniel Hines

    University of Maryland

  • Michael Fuhrer

    University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland College Park, Department of Physics and Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Dept of Physics, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-4111, USA

  • Ellen Williams

    University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Physics and University of Maryland Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, University of Maryland, LPS, CNAM, and the DOP, UM, Physics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Dept of Physics, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD, University of Maryland College Park, Dept. of Physics, U. of Maryland - College Park, Department of Physics and Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-4111, USA