Nanomaterials embedded thin film transistor for sensor applications: Tutorial review

Abstract

Transistor is one of the intensely studied sensor technology for engineering and medical applications. Countless studies and experiments are being conducted to make it best and innovative technology. However, there are certain drawbacks which limit the performance of transistors. Therefore, nanotechnology was introduced to exploit the full capacity of transistor technology. Inspired by the unique features and properties of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal oxide, metal chalcogenides nanostructures, the transistor device functionalities were surprisingly improved. This short review describes the selection and introduction of suitable nanostructures in to transistor devices to exploit its possible functionalities. Basically, the nanomaterial is introduced mainly in the gate region of a field effect transistor, due to which the factors like drain current, transconductance etc found to increase. The review explores the development of thin film transistors (TFT) using various nanostructures, which play a crucial role in the development of sensors. Transistors of channel length as small as 0.7 nm has been made with the help of nanotechnology. This report focuses on the various nanomaterials that are used in transistors. In summary, we have reviewed about different types of nanomaterials used in transistors, structure and properties, application in transistors, limitations and future challenges.

Keywords: Transistors, TFTs, Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, Metal oxides, Metal Chalcogenides.