Carbon Nanotube Metal Polymer Composites for Flexible Active Interconnects

Abstract

We report on the fabrication of metal polymer carbon nanotube (MPCNT) composites for flexible active interconnects. Our experiments demonstrated that such CNTs-reinforced polymer-metal composites have several times higher tolerance to bending strains than the metal-polymer composites without the CNTs layer. Since CNT-polymer layer electrically separated from the metal layer until destructive breakdown, it is feasible to fabricate electronic components isolated from the metal layer in MPCNT composites. Thus, the MPCNT composites-based interconnects could be utilized as a platform for CNTs-based environment monitoring sensors and CNT Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) with applications in Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicle systems, and wearable electronics. To estimate the electrical characteristics of the CNT-polymer based electronic devices, we developed the compact Unified Charge Control Models (UCCM) for single CNT field effect transistors (FETs) and CNT mat TFTs. The UCCM models were validated by comparison of the simulated results with different experimental data reported by other groups. The models could be widely used for device simulation and circuit design for developing flexible active interconnects and electronic components based on the single CNTs, CNT mats, and MPCNT composites.