Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene for Electronics Applications 2011-2021

Transparent electronics is now very much a subject in its own right, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene have a huge role to play in this. CNTs (whether transparent or opaque), graphene and their compounds exhibit extraordinary electrical properties for organic materials, and have a huge potential in electrical and electronic applications such as photovoltaics, sensors, semiconductor devices, displays, conductors, smart textiles, energy conversion devices (e.g., fuel cells, harvesters and batteries) and more.

 

This updated report brings all of this together, covering the latest work from over 110 organisations around the world and details the latest progress in the technologies. New developments, challenges and opportunities regarding material production and applications are given.

While the fabrication of CNT transistors is still in the research phases, they are starting to be used for their conductive properties, in addition to the fact that they can be transparent, flexible and even stretchable. In particular, they are being applied as conductive layers for the rapidly growing touch screen market. They are also likely to become a viable replacement for Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) transparent conductors, which are expensive due to the rare Indium being used, vacuum based processing, and additionally have very limited flexing capability - such as easily cracking under 2% strain.

 

Ink or solution CNTs will enable high performing devices which can ultimately be made in low cost manufacturing processes such as printing, over large areas. Depending on their chemical structure, CNTs can be used as an alternative to organic or inorganic semiconductors as well as conductors, which in electronics, other than electromagnetic shielding, will be one of the first large applications for CNTs. Companies that IDTechEx surveyed forecast growth rates as high as 300% over the next five years.

 

While the cost of CNTs was once prohibitive, it has been dropping in recent years as chemical companies build up their manufacturing capacity. However, challenges remain and cheap mass production as well as high-volume commercial applications are not achieved yet. The challenges include consistent growth, material purity, separation, device fabrication and the need for other device materials such as suitable dielectrics. Nevertheless, scientists are getting closer - several separation methods have been discovered over the last few years and a new CNT production process was patented in 2010 by CNano Technology. This, and other new developments regarding the production of pure CNTs and the separation of conducting and semiconducting CNTs are given in this updated report.

Transistors using graphene are considered to be potential successors for the silicon components currently in use. The material proves to be an ideal candidate for many high-speed computing applications in the multibillion-dollar semiconductor device industry - potentially enabling terahertz computing, at processor speeds 100 to 1000 times faster than silicon. Graphene and its compounds are increasingly used to make transistors that show extremely good performance - progress that comes with new cheaper production processes for the raw material. All this work is covered in this updated report from IDTechEx.

 

One crucial issue concerning the use of graphene for electronic applications is getting it to perform as a true semiconductor. However, recent activities of several academic institutions show promise that the material's restraining issue of not having a band gap will soon be solved.

Printable CNT inks and graphene-based inks are beginning to hit the market. The last year has shown further development regarding production, purification and solution processing on both sides. IDTechEx has researched 113 companies and academic institutions working on CNTs, graphene and their compounds, all profiled in the report. Graphene and multi wall CNTs (MWCNTs) are already in fairly high production - tens of tonnes per year. However, most of these uses are for non-electronic/electrical products, or simple applications such as electromagnetic shielding. While manufacturers in North America focus more on single wall CNTs (SWCNTs); Asia and Europe, with Japan in first place and China second, are leading the production of multi wall CNTS (MWCNTs) with Showa Denko, Mitsui and Hodogaya Chemical being among the largest suppliers.

 

Currently, the largest manufacturer in the world is a Chinese company named Cnano, which is reported to produce around 500 tonnes per year. Europe's Bayer Corporation is currently the second largest global producer at 200 tonnes per year but there are other similar sized producers in Germany and France. However, the largest number of manufacturers, around 27 and albeit at small volumes, is in the United States.

This concise and unique report from IDTechEx gives an in-depth review to the applications, technologies, emerging solutions and players. It addresses specific topics such as:

For those involved in making or using CNTs and graphene, or those developing displays, photovoltaics, transistors, energy storage devices and conductors and want to learn about how they can benefit from this technology, this is a must-read report.

The report price includes one hour free consulting with a report author from IDTechEx, by email or telephone. This needs to be used within 3 months of purchasing the report.

所有报告购买订单均包括与一名专家分析师进行 30 分钟的电话交谈，专家分析师将帮助您将报告中的重要发现与您正在处理的业务问题联系起来。这需要在购买报告后的三个月内使用。

如果您对这一报告有任何疑问，请随时联系我们的报告团队 research@IDTechEx.com 或致电我们的销售经理：

AMERICAS (USA): +1 617 577 7890

ASIA (Japan and Korea): +81 3 3216 7209

ASIA: +44 1223 810259

EUROPE (UK) +44 1223 812300