TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the best semiconductor materials ever discovered offering dramatically greater efficiency, lower energy requirements, and less heat generation for a variety of electronic devices and biosensors. Aligned arrays of CNTs offer up to five times faster performance and consume less energy (roughly 1/5) than silicon transistors. In addition, aligned nanotubes (ANTs) will enable rapid and controllable change in a current signal traveling across it, leading to substantial gains in the sensitivity of biosensors and bandwidth of wireless communications. However, the enormous promise of these materials is only possible if the CNTs are purified and properly aligned. Addressing a twenty-year materials challenge, Dr. Arnold has developed the capability to extract semiconducting nanotubes from raw powders to create electronics-grade inks using removable polymer wrappers. Moreover, his team discovered multiple scalable, fluid-based techniques that deposit nanotubes as aligned arrays over large surface areas including a 4x4 in2 wafer. Using these methods, Dr. Arnold’s lab has demonstrated thin film transistors with mobility between 50 and 200 cm2V-1s. The lab has also created transistors with current density exceeding silicon and gallium arsenide.

AREA/MATURITY/AWARDS

Primary Application Area: Electronics, Sensors, Communications

Technology Development Status: Prototype

Technology Readiness Level: TRL 4

Vetted Programs/Awards: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (“WARF”) Innovation Awards Finalist (2017)

SHOWCASE SUMMARY

Organization Type: Academic/Gov Lab

Showcase Booth #: 223

Website: http://www.warf.org

GOVT/EXTERNAL FUNDING SOURCES

External Funding to Date: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) Accelerator Program