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Carbon Nanotube
Applications of carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes are expected to become a key material in ultrafine devices of the future, because of their unique electrical characteristics, and their extraordinarily fine structure on a nanometer scale. Other merits offered by carbon nanotubes are light weight, extremely high mechanical strength (they have larger tensile strength than steel), their ability to withstand extreme heat of 2000°C in the absence of oxygen, and the fact that they emit electrons efficiently when subjected to electrical field. Currently, research is being conducted throughout the world targeting the application of carbon nanotubes as materials for use in transistors and fuel cells, which we are currently working on, as well as big TV screens, ultra-sensitive sensors, high-resolution AFM probes, supercapacitor, transparent conducting film, drug carrier, catalysts, and composite material.
In 1999, in collaboration with JST, we developed a nanostructure fabrication technology that uses carbon nanotubes as key material for electronic devices on the nanometer level, and succeeded in connecting carbon nanotubes with other materials using a process of "solid-chemical reaction" [Ref. Press Release]. In 2001, NEC and the Japan Science and Technology Corporation and the Institute of Research and Innovation succeeded in developing the world's first compact fuel cell for mobile devices, which used carbon nanotubes for the electrodes [Ref. Press Release ]. In September 2003, we developed a prototype of a carbon nanotube transistor that is more than ten times faster (based on mutual conductance) than silicon MOS transistors (announced at the 2003 International Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials (SSDM) as part of a project by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)).
In Sept. 2004, NEC Corporation announced the development of a diameter/position-controlled carbon nanotube ("CNT") growth technique [Ref. Press Release ]. This technique will provide a practical method for controlling the position and diameter of CNT. NEC expects this result will promote the research and development of high-performance CNT electronic devices. In addition, NEC announced the successful development of a carbon nanotube (CNT) transistor using a coating process in 2008. [Ref. Press Release] In 2009, NEC announced the successful demonstration of the fully printed CNT transistor.[Ref. Press Release] Towards practical usage of 2015, NEC will continue R&D of printed CNT transistor technology especially on CNT material, CNT ink, and fabrication process.
In 2005, NEC demonstrated the possibility of applying carbon nanohorns to the drug delivery systems, in cooperation with JST and Cancer Institute. At present, this activity was transferred to AIST, and further R&D towards practical use is continued.
