BACKGROUND:  Flexible and transparent transistors have recently resulted in several noteworthy achievements. Transparent transistors have been fabricated using both polymers and inorganic oxides. Both have significant deficiencies, however. Polymers have low mobility and inorganic oxides do not have the desired flexibility and simplicity in manufacture. In current transistor configurations, the gate and also the source and drain are metal electrodes, and thus are neither flexible nor transparent. In addition there is usually a large interface resistance between the electrodes and the carbon nanotubes network. Furthermore, there is a need for a simple method of fabrication, where the different layers that form the transistors and the fabrication of the different layers are compatible.

INNOVATION:  The invention addresses the needs for a flexible and transparent transistor by replacing all or more than one of the four basic components of a transistor (source, drain, gate, and conduction channel) with a carbon nanotubes network. Since three components of the device are all formed from the same material, the method of fabrication is easy and uses standard fabrication techniques.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:  Flexible and transparent electronic devices, such as displays.

ADVANTAGES

• Transparent and flexible transistors
• Ease of fabrication
• Electrical interconnects with small resistance between the different elements (source, conducting channel, and gate)
• The invention is applicable to other electronic devices, such as diodes.
• More than 80% transparency

DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:  The invention has been fabricated and characterized.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2005-432

PCT Application: US06/006610