Fabrication of Transistors from Purified (7,6) Carbon Nanotubes

As the semiconductor industry marches towards nanoscale electronics, the carbon nanotube is becoming an increasingly important prospect for new innovations, promising smaller size, faster speeds, and lower power consumption. As with all novel discoveries, however, there are challenges that must first be overcome. This thesis begins with an overview of the properties of carbon nanotubes. It then introduces the fundamental problems associated with carbon nanotube transistors along with proposed solutions. A scalable procedure for the fabrication of transistors from purified (7,6) carbon nanotubes is presented. CoMoCAT nanotubes are purified via isopycnic centrifugation and dielectrophoretically placed between electrodes. The resultant devices display high on/off ratios and low resistances. Approximately 50% of all the devices display an on/off ratio greater than 10. The potential for higher yields is discussed.