A Review of Carbon Nanotube Ensembles as Flexible Electronics and Advanced Packaging Materials

Abstract

The exceptional electronic, thermal, mechanical, and optical characteristics of carbon nanotubes offer significant improvement in diverse applications such as flexible electronics, energy conversion, and thermal management. We present an overview of recent research on the fabrication, characterization and modeling of carbon nanotube (CNT) networks or ensembles for three emerging applications: thin-film transistors for flexible electronics, interface materials for thermal management and transparent electrodes for organic photovoltaics or light emitting diodes. Results from experimental measurements and numerical simulations to determine the electrical and thermal transport properties and characteristics of carbon nanotube networks and arrays used in the above applications are presented. The roles heterogeneous networks of semiconducting and metallic CNTs play in defining electrical, thermal, and optical characteristics of CNT ensembles are presented. We conclude with discussions on future research directions for electronics and packaging materials based on CNT ensembles.