Zinc oxide nanowire networks for macroelectronic devices

Highly transparent zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire networks have been used as the active material in thin film transistors (TFTs) and complementary inverter devices. A systematic study on a range of networks of variable density and TFT channel length was performed. ZnO nanowire networks provide a less lithographically intense alternative to individual nanowire devices, are always semiconducting, and yield significantly higher mobilites than those achieved from currently used amorphous Si and organic TFTs. These results suggest that ZnO nanowire networks could be ideal for inexpensive large area electronics. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

Zinc oxide nanostructures and high electron mobility nanocomposite thin film transistors

This paper reports on the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures and examines the performance of nanocomposite thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated using ZnO dispersed in both n- and p-type polymer host matrices. The ZnO nanostructures considered here comprise nanowires and tetrapods and were synthesized using vapor phase deposition techniques involving the carbothermal reduction of solid-phase zinc-containing compounds. Measurement results of nanocomposite TFTs based on dispersion of ZnO nanorods in an n-type organic semiconductor ([6, 6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) show electron field-effect mobilities in the range 0.3-0.6 cm2V-1 s-1. representing an approximate enhancement by as much as a factor of 40 from the pristine state. The on/off current ratio of the nanocomposite TFTs approach 106 at saturation with off-currents on the order of 10 pA. The results presented here, although preliminary, show a highly promising enhancement for realization of high-performance solution-processable n-type organic TFTs. © 2008 IEEE.

Investigating the hydrothermal growth of zinc oxide nanostructures through seed layer control

Controlling the growth of ZnO nanostructures for photovoltaic applications will ensure greater device efficiency and parameter control. This paper reports on methods to engineer the morphology and tailor the nanostructure growth direction through the hydrothermal synthesis method. Effective control is achieved through the use of a sputtered zinc layer together with modifications of the growth solution. These nanostructures have been developed with a view to incorporation into excitonic solar cells, and methods to improve surface stability using a fully aqueous synthesis method will be discussed. © by Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München.

Erratum: "Zinc oxide nanostructures and high electron mobility nanocomposite thin film transistors" (IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (2009))

In the above entitled paper (ibid., vol. 55, no. 11, pp. 3001-3011), two errors were noticed after the paper went to press. The errors are corrected here.

Flexible array sensors based on zinc oxide nanowires for touch displays

Recent efforts towards the fabrication of touch sensing systems are presented, in which zinc oxide nanowire arrays are embedded in a polymer matrix to produce an engineered composite material. In the future, these sensor systems will be fully flexible and multi-touch as intended for Nokia's 'Morph' concept device.

Catalyst-free synthesis of zinc oxide nanostructures by microheaters in the ambient environment

This paper demonstrates a catalyst-free synthesis of ZnO nanostructures using platinum microheaters under ambient environmental conditions. Different morphologies of ZnO nanostructures are synthesized from the oxidization of Zn thin film by local heating. The synthesized ZnO structures are characterized by the SEM, EDX and Raman spectra. The characterization of two shapes of Pt microheaters is investigated and the relationship between the applied heating power and ZnO nanostructures synthesis is investigated under ambient conditions. We observe that the density and morphology of ZnO nanostructures can be controlled through applied heating voltages. Furthermore, a connected composite structural (Zn-ZnO-Zn) layer is synthesized using combinative microheaters. © 2011 IEEE.