Fully Inkjet Printed Carbon Nanotube Thin-Film Transistors for Large-Area Flexible Backplanes

The demand for large-area, flexible electronic devices have driven significant innovation in thin film transistor (TFT) technology. Here, we present a fully-solution processed, scalable fabrication route to realize high-performance carbon nanotube (CNT) TFT arrays on flexible substrates utilizing inkjet printing. Our Fully Inkjet Printed (FIJP) technique allows for the simplified manufacturability of CNT-TFTs with outstanding performance metrics. We demonstrate a scalable process with four-layer transistor configuration, achieving remarkable mobility values up to 40 cm²/(V-s) and an On / Off ratio of ~10⁵, one of the highest reported for fully printed CNT-TFTs to date. In-situ curing methods, including photon sintering and plasma treatment, are integrated to enhance device robustness and overlay accuracy, crucial for Roll-to-Roll (R2R) manufacturing compatibility. These results demonstrate the viability of FIJP as a robust and industrially relevant platform for next-generation large-area flexible electronics, including displays, sensor arrays, and wearable systems.