p-n homo-junction arrays of aligned single walled carbon nanotubes fabricated by selective patterning of polyethyleneimine film

Abstract

We describe the fabrication and electrical performance of p-n homo-junction diode arrays of horizontally aligned single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Horizontally aligned SWCNTs grown on stable temperature-cut quartz with a density of similar to 6 SWCNTs mu m(-1) were transferred onto a SiO2/Si substrate. After the electrical breakdown, aligned SWCNT field effect transistors (FETs) showed unipolar p-type characteristics with a large current on/off ratio of 10(6) at 1 V and a hole mobility per tube of 1500 cm(2) V-1 s(-1). Spin-coating of polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto p-type SWCNT FETs showed the n-type transfer characteristics. Patterning of spin-coated PEI film enabled the fabrication of p-n homo-junction arrays of aligned SWCNTs in an easy way, where the rectifying behavior was observed with a rectification ratio of similar to 10(4) at +/- 2 V. A comparative study with a p-n homo-junction of random networks of SWCNTs confirmed the advantage of aligned SWCNTs for applications in high performance electronic devices.