Solution-deposited carbon nanotube layers for flexible display applications

We have investigated two possible fields of application for carbon nanotube (CNT) networks in flexible displays. Transparent and conductive layers of CNTs were spray coated onto glass and plastic substrates. The spectral transmission of the produced layers is almost even for all wavelengths in the visible regime. A sheet resistance of 400 Omega/square at a transmittance of 80% was achieved. Thin-film transistors (TFT) were created on silicon wafers and glass substrates using low-density CNT networks as a semiconducting layer. The process used for device fabrication on glass substrates is fully compatible to application on plastic foils. The transistors reach on/off ratios of more than five orders of magnitude and show device charge carrier mobilities in the order of 1 cm(2)/Vs. These values promise an application in active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD). Issues that need to be addressed are the homogeneity and reproducibility of the device properties. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.