Abstract
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are one of the most promising materials for the future of electronics beyond silicon, due to their extraordinary high carrier mobility and high mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability. However, the coexistence of semiconducting and metallic species in the as-grown SWNTs remains a big challenge for their application in electronics. This thesis aims to investigate the selection of semiconducting SWNTs using the so-called polymer-wrapping method.
Many different parameters, such as the structure of polymers, the dielectric constant of solvent, the temperature during the selection, and the diameters of the tubes, have been found to play important roles in obtaining high purity semiconducting SWNTs. Optical spectroscopy tools including absorption, photoluminescence, and time resolved spectroscopy were employed to characterize the purity of the nanotube dispersions and to obtain a better understanding of the interaction between the polymers and the SWNTs. The analysis of this interaction is further supported by molecular dynamics simulations.
High purity semiconducting SWNTs solutions were used to fabricated field-effect transistors, showing high performance transistors with mobility up to 33 cm²/Vs and on/off ratio of 10⁶. Furthermore, in this thesis we also studied the possibilities to further improve the transistor performance, by making a better attachment and alignment of the nanotubes to the substrates using a self-assembly process.
Many different parameters, such as the structure of polymers, the dielectric constant of solvent, the temperature during the selection, and the diameters of the tubes, have been found to play important roles in obtaining high purity semiconducting SWNTs. Optical spectroscopy tools including absorption, photoluminescence, and time resolved spectroscopy were employed to characterize the purity of the nanotube dispersions and to obtain a better understanding of the interaction between the polymers and the SWNTs. The analysis of this interaction is further supported by molecular dynamics simulations.
High purity semiconducting SWNTs solutions were used to fabricated field-effect transistors, showing high performance transistors with mobility up to 33 cm²/Vs and on/off ratio of 10⁶. Furthermore, in this thesis we also studied the possibilities to further improve the transistor performance, by making a better attachment and alignment of the nanotubes to the substrates using a self-assembly process.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Supervisors/Advisors |
|
| Award date | 4-Dec-2015 |
| Place of Publication | [Groningen] |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 978-90-367-8331-6 |
| Electronic ISBNs | 978-90-367-8330-9 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |