Improvement of Performance of Paper Transistor Using Carbon-Nanotube-Composite Paper and Its Application to Logic Circuit

Abstract

We propose development of an advanced type of "paper transistor" by using carbon- nanotube (CNT) composite papers (CNTCPs) and aim to apply our paper transistors to the construction of logic circuits. It is known that CNTs have many functions such as high electrical and thermal conductivities and metallic and semiconducting properties. Our CNTCP, which has various functions held by CNTs despite being paper, can be fabricated easily by scooping up and drying materials from a mixture of CNT and pulp (paper materials) dispersions. The CNTs have metallic or semiconducting properties, so metallic and semiconducting CNTCPs can be fabricated. By preparing such CNTCPs and normal paper as an insulator, we can produce the paper transistor. In previous work, we confirmed our prototype paper transistor could operate as a p-type transistor. However, the sample had problems, e.g., the internal resistance was rather high. In this study, we aim to overcome the problems by using a novel method for making the CNTCP. As the result of experiments, we succeeded in obtaining new paper transistors with better performance in comparison with the previous one. Moreover, we succeeded in finding a potential use as an n-type paper transistor by using an n-type doping material for semiconducting CNTCPs.