Switching materials comprising mixed nanoscopic particles and carbon nanotubes and methods of making and using the same

• US 8,969,142 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZEON Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nantero Incorporated
• Inventors: Ghenciu, Eliodor G., Rueckes, Thomas, Yao, Thierry, Kocab, J. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): TOBERGTE, NICHOLAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/051,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20140045316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 438/139, 257/109
• US Class Current: 438/139
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0069 Writing or programming circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/025 using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/009 Write using potential difference applied between cell electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/79 Array wherein the access device being a transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 63/30 comprising selection components having three or more electrodes, e.g. transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/50 Bistable switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 19/202 Integrated devices comprising a common active layer
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/12 using liquid deposition, e.g. spin coating
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/20 Carbon compounds, e.g. carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/021 Formation of the switching material, e.g. layer deposition
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/20 Multistable switching devices, e.g. memristors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/231 based on solid-state phase change, e.g. between amorphous and crystalline phases, Ovshinsky effect
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/826 adapted for essentially vertical current flow, e.g. sandwich or pillar type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/8845 Carbon or carbides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for forming a composite nanotube article based device, comprising:

forming a nanotube fabric over a first material layer, said nanotube fabric comprising a plurality of nanotubes;

introducing a plurality of nanoscopic particles to said nanotube fabric such that said plurality of nanoscopic particles penetrates said nanotube fabric and forms a composite nanotube article; and

depositing a second material layer such that said composite nanotube article and said second material layer have longitudinal axes that are substantially parallel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nanoscopic particles limit the porosity of the composite nanotube article.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nanoscopic particles limits the encroachment of said second material layer into said composite nanotube article.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nanoscopic particles are introduced by one of an ion implantation process, a vapor deposition process, or a sputtering process.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nanotubes are substantially all carbon nanotubes.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nanoscopic particles includes nanoscopic particles containing at least one allotrope of carbon.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nanoscopic particles includes silicon oxide particles.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nanoscopic particles includes silicon nitride particles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of nanoscopic particles includes multi-walled nanotubes.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said nanotube fabric is formed by one of a spin-coating process or a spray-coating process.