Breakthrough in transistor production could revolutionise electronics

Researchers in Dublin have created nanometre-thick film transistors entirely of two-dimensional nanomaterials, opening up a wide array of potential future applications. 

Using standard electronic printing techniques, graphene flakes were combined with different materials. This technique could produce cheaply printed solar cells, LEDS, smart food and drug labels.

Professor Jonathan Coleman, who is leading the research at Trinity College Dublin, said: “We believe that 2D nanomaterials can compete with the materials currently used for printed electronics. Compared to other materials employed in this field, our 2D nanomaterials have the capability to yield more cost effective and higher performance printed devices. However, while the last decade has underlined the potential of 2D materials for a range of electronic applications, only the first steps have been taken to demonstrate their worth in printed electronics. This publication is important because it shows that conducting, semiconducting and insulating 2D nanomaterials can be combined together in complex devices.”

The graphene flakes act as electrodes, with layers of boron nitride or tungsten diselenide, acting as either insulating or semiconducting layered materials. The flakes are a few nanometres thick, but are hundreds of nanometres wide and the research team believe there is potential to improve their performance to surpass current advanced transistors.

Professor Coleman said: “In the future, printed devices will be incorporated into even the most mundane objects such as labels, posters and packaging. Printed electronic circuitry will allow consumer products to gather, process, display and transmit information: for example, milk cartons will send messages to your phone warning that the milk is about to go out-of-date

The materials were printed with inks created by a liquid exfoliation method that’s been developed by Professor Coleman. This technique is advantageous as it yields large amounts of high-quality amounts of layered materials – enabling the prospect of low cost printed circuitry.

Professor Coleman is working in collaboration with groups of researchers accompanying both Professor Georg Duesberg, also at Trinity College and Professor Laurens Siebbeles, based at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. The research was published in Science.