Synthesis of ZnO nanowires for Thin Film Network Transistors

Zinc oxide nanowire networks are attractive as alternatives to organic and amorphous semiconductors due to their wide bandgap, flexibility and transparency. We demonstrate the fabrication of thin film transistors (TFT)s which utilize ZnO nanowires as the semiconducting channel. These thin film transistors can be transparent and flexible and processed at low temperatures on to a variety of substrates. The nanowire networks are created using a simple contact transfer method that is easily scalable. Apparent nanowire network mobility values can be as high as 3.8 cm(2)/VS (effective thin film mobility: 0.03 cm(2)/VS) in devices with 20 mu m channel lengths and ON/OFF ratios of up to 10(4).