Low variability with high performance in thin-film transistors of semiconducting carbon nanotubes achieved by shortening tube lengths

Abstract

Extremely low variability with excellent device performances in a SWCNT-TFT array has been demonstrated in SWCNT-TFTs fabricated by using a semiconducting ink of short SWCNTs with an average length of 340 nm; the field-effect mobility of 3.9 ± 0.45 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, on/off ratio from 10⁵ to 10⁶, and hysteresis of ≈0.5 V. AFM observations revealed that the nonionic surfactant, Brij 700, adopted for dispersing SWCNTs during their extraction, causes the significant and homogeneous shortening of SWCNTs compared with sodium cholate, which is frequently used for the dispersion of SWCNTs as an ionic surfactant. Thus, it has been concluded that the shortening of SWCNTs in the dispersing process using the Brij 700 surfactant contributes to the observed uniformity of performance among the devices.