@article{Gong2026, 
author = {Qibei Gong and Fan Xia and Lanyue Gan and Li Xiang and Youfan Hu},
title = {Machine learning-guided process co-cptimization of flexible carbon nanotube thin-film transistors for low-voltage digital logic circuits},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
keywords = {carbon nanotube thin-film transistors, machine learning, low-voltage logic, flexible electronics, process co-optimization},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2026.94909009},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2026.94909009},
abstract = {Carbon nanotube thin-film transistors (CNT-TFTs) are promising for flexible electronics, but circuit-oriented optimization remains challenging because reliable logic operation requires a coordinated balance among multiple device metrics, and such a balance is difficult to achieve by one-factor-at-a-time tuning within a coupled multistep fabrication process. Accordingly, process optimization must be target-oriented rather than driven by any single device metric. Here, we develop a machine learning-guided process co-optimization framework for flexible CNT-TFTs and use low-voltage digital logic as a representative use case. A decision-tree model trained on more than 800 devices from 80 fabrication recipes employs a weighted evaluation score that jointly considers extracted field-effect mobility as a proxy for current-drive capability, threshold voltage, drain current at VGS = 0 V, subthreshold swing, and on/off ratio. The optimized enhancement-mode CNT-TFTs exhibit extracted field-effect mobilities up to 71 cm2 V-1 s-1, width-normalized drain current at VGS = 0 V as low as 0.2 pA μm-1, and an on/off ratio of 106. Using inverters as a sensitive unit-level benchmark, we realize 2 V pseudo-PMOS inverters with a switching threshold near VDD/2, a voltage gain of 60, and noise margins of 36%–42%. The same platform further supports a 5-stage ring oscillator operating at 60 kHz, as well as rail-to-rail basic logic gates and a 1-bit full adder, thereby verifying low-voltage dynamic and cascaded logic operation on flexible CNT-TFTs. These results show that machine learning-guided process co-optimization provides an efficient route for translating circuit requirements into fabrication strategies for flexible CNT logic circuits.}
}