Carbon nanotube radio-frequency electronics

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) is considered a promising material for radio-frequency (RF) applications, owing to its high carrier mobility and saturated drift velocity, as well as ultra-small intrinsic gate capacitance. Here, we review progress on CNT-based devices and integrated circuits for RF applications, including theoretical projection of RF performance of CNT-based devices, preparation of CNT materials, fabrication, optimization of RF field-effect transistors (FETs) structures, and ambipolar FET-based RF applications, and we outline challenges and prospects of CNT-based RF applications.

CNTFET Technology for RF Applications: Review and Future Perspective

“…The Langmuir-Blodgett technique yields linearly aligned tubes with 30-50 tubes/μm, whereas a very high density of about 500 tubes/μm is achieved by dielectrophoresis, which suffers though from weak gate modulation and reduced current density owing to thick multi-layer CNT films and serious tube-tube screening effects. Although this 'solution' approach is still not perfect, it has become the mainstream method [76] for aligned CNT arrays featuring high purity and density. In 2020, a group from Bejing University developed a multiple-dispersion & sorting process and a dimension limited self-alignment (DLSA) procedure [77] to prepare 4-inch wafer-scale well-aligned CNT arrays with a density of approximately 120-140 CNT/μm at a very high semiconducting purity of over 99.99%.…”

Inkjet printed nanomaterial based flexible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag sensors for the internet of nano things

“…157,[194][195][196][197][198][199][200][201][202] Both singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been used for radio frequency applications. [203][204][205][206][207] The transparent conductive lms of CNTs have been considered as an alternate conductive material to ITO electrodes for exible electronics. CNTs can be made into conductive inks for inkjet printing purpose.…”

Review on development of carbon nanotube field emission cathode for space propulsion systems

“…Field emission cathodes (FECs) provide a promising alternative, due to the following benefits: (i) no propellant is consumed in FECs, and the whole system-specific impulse can be increased; (ii) reduction of the propulsion system power requirements. In particular, carbon nanotube (CNT) based FECs have become popular in last decades and have demonstrated numerous applications [6,7] in X-ray imaging tools [8,9], RF sources [10], compact mass spectrometry [11], flat-panel displays [12][13][14], electron-beam systems [15], vacuum tubes [6], lighting devices [16], amplifiers and electric propulsion devices [2]. Many efforts have been paid to summarise numerous potential applications of CNT-FECs and further details are presented in several previous reviews [6,7,17,18].…”