Nanotube inks set to revolutionise device production

"Until now, users of semiconducting CNTs had to use surfactant containing ink from material suppliers or produce surfactant based inks themselves from raw semiconductor CNT sources," said Jim Lamb, director of business development, for the company's Carbon Electronics Center. "In either case, the deposited surfactant had to be washed from the film, which generated CNT contaminated waste and could redistribute the deposited films, leading to performance variation. The CNTRENE 4010 series of water based semiconducting inks is stable and can be deposited onto a variety of rigid and flexible substrates using standard coating techniques. The company says its Carbon Electronics Center has prepared arrays of TFTs which have average on/off ratios of more than 4000 and mobilities in excess of 0.2cm²/V.s. "These ready to use formulations will give our customers a stable and consistent product for use in large scale manufacturing of semiconducting devices and many other products," Lamb added.