Research
For the fine writing
A DuPont and Cornell University study reveals a new
process to make high performance carbon nanotube ‘inks’.
Issue I 2009
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cientists at DuPont and Since their discovery in the early
Cornell University in 1990s, carbon nanotubes have been
Ithaca, N.Y., have used viewed as potentially revolutionising the
a simple chemical electronics industry. However, the fact
process to convert that carbon nanotubes are produced as
mixtures of metallic and semiconducting complex mixtures can greatly limit their
oasiasemiconductor
carbon nanotubes into solely applications. In 2003, DuPont scientists
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semiconducting carbon nanotubes with published in Science a method to
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electrical characteristics well-suited for separate carbon nanotubes using DNA.
plastic electronics. This new finding, DuPont has continued to investigate
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reported in the January 9 issue of the these materials. The current
journal Science, identifies a development is a significant
commercially viable path for the advancement in this pioneering field,
production of bulk quantities of organic and is a more promising approach to
semiconducting ink, which can be developing semiconductor applications
printed into thin, flexible electronics of carbon nanotubes.
such as transistors and photovoltaic “A significant limitation in
materials for solar cell technology. electronic application of carbon
The research team included DuPont nanotubes has been the difficulty in
research fellow Dr. Graciela Blanchet, separating metallic from
Cornell University associate professor of semiconducting carbon nanotubes,”
materials science and engineering Graciela said. “Our research uncovered
George Malliaras, Cornell/DuPont post- a potentially low cost route to suppress
doctoral fellow Mandakini Kanungo and the conductivity of the metallic tubes
DuPont research chemist Helen Lu. without requiring further separation of
Their article was titled, Suppression of nanotubes by type.”
Metallic Conductivity of Single-Walled “We are looking forward to
Carbon Nanotubes by Cycloaddition exploring the use of this material in a
Reactions.” The research was funded wide range of devices for applications
by a U.S. Air Force grant to Cornell such as novel organic photovoltaic
University. structures,” Malliaras said.
Since their discovery in the early 1990s, carbon nanotubes have
been viewed as potentially revolutionising the electronics industry.
However, the fact that carbon nanotubes are produced as complex
mixtures can greatly limit their applications
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