Science and applications of wafer-scale crystalline carbon nanotube films prepared through controlled vacuum filtration

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development of wafer-scale crystalline carbon nanotube films prepared via controlled vacuum filtration, highlighting their unique properties and potential applications in optics and electronics.

Contribution

It introduces a controlled vacuum filtration method for producing large-scale crystalline CNT films and summarizes recent advances in their optical and optoelectronic applications.

Findings

Successful fabrication of wafer-scale crystalline CNT films.

Enhanced optical and electronic properties observed in the films.

Potential for new fundamental studies and device applications.

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) make an ideal one-dimensional (1D) material platform for the exploration of exotic physical phenomena under extremely strong quantum confinement. The 1D character of electrons, phonons and excitons in individual CNTs features extraordinary electronic, thermal and optical properties. Since the first discovery, they have been continuing to attract interest in various disciplines, including chemistry, materials science, physics, and engineering. However, the macroscopic manifestation of such properties is still limited, despite significant efforts for decades. Recently, a controlled vacuum filtration method has been developed for the preparation of wafer-scale films of crystalline chirality-enriched CNTs, and such films immediately enable exciting new fundamental studies and applications. In this review, we will first discuss the controlled vacuum filtration technique, and then summarize recent discoveries in optical spectroscopy studies and optoelectronic device applications using films prepared by this technique.