Fully Printed Submicron CNT-TFTs Using Hummink's NAZCA System

The webinar was led by Dr. Aaron Franklin, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University, and featured the participation of Sahar Al Kamand, sales engineer at Hummink. The webinar highlighted the potential of printed carbon nanotube thin-film transistors (CNT-TFTs) for sustainable electronics and explored the integration of various printing techniques. Professor Franklin also discussed the advancements in their research on fully printed sub-𝜇m CNT-TFTs without chemical modification, using a form of direct ink called capillary flow printing, enabled by the Hummink NAZCA system.

Key Takeaways

• HPCaP Technology: Hummink's High Precision Capillary Printing (HPCaP) technology enables high-precision printing at micron and sub-micron resolutions using capillary forces, inspired by atomic force microscopy.
• Versatility and Applications: HPCaP can print any 2D pattern using various materials on multiple subtrates, including flexible ones. It can also create some 3D structures like bumps and pillars. It is targeted at markets like semiconductor, display, electronics, biotechnology, and sensors.
• Sustainability Focus: The technology aims to promote sustainability by reducing e-waste and the high environmental footprint of current semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Research Integration: The research demonstrated the use of HPCaP and aerosol jet printing to create fully printed sub-𝜇m CNT-TFTs. The advancements are three-fold:

1. The demonstration of as-printed sub-𝜇m CNT-TFTs gaps between silver nanoparticle (AgNP) electrodes.
2.  The development of a printing procedure to realize dense CNT films with a line width below 20 𝜇m.
3.  The demonstration of fully printed sub-𝜇m CNT-TFTs on a flexible substrate.

• Challenges and Opportunities: Despite the promising capabilities of printed electronics, integration and practical implementation remain complex, involving additional processing steps. The combination of different printing techniques can address these challenges, optimizing both precision and speed.

The webinar recording, as well as the presentation slides, will be published soon.