Nanotechnology paves the way for lightweight transistors

Carbon nanotubes could be used to make thinner, lighter transistors and solar cells through a new process that involves treating them with fluorine-based molecules.

The researchers put fluorine-based molecules into contact with the nanotubes, which created a perfect batch of solely semiconducting nanotubes.

The work should lead to an exploration of a wide range of devices, such as novel organic photovoltaic structures, said George Malliaras, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at Cornell University.

Funded by a grant from the US Air Force for developing transistors from carbon nanotubes, the work is a collaboration between scientists from Cornell University and the chemical company DuPont who have worked together on a variety of projects involving flexible electronics.

The method is reported in the 9 Jan issue of the journal Science

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