Whereas efforts toward graphene commercialization are still in their early stages, lessons from the commercialization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) might be applicable, given the similarities between the two materials (specifically, a single-walled CNT can be thought of as a monolayer of graphene wrapped into a cylinder). This article reviews the commercialization of CNT materials (with a special emphasis on single-walled CNTs) in selected electronics applications, including specific examples of successes, failures, and promising opportunities. Two application areas are reviewed: (1) alternatives to silicon for fabricating transistors used in display backplanes, radio-frequency identification, and smart cards, for example, and (2) alternatives to indium tin oxide for transparent conductive films used in displays, electronic paper for e-readers, touch sensors, light-emitting diode lighting, photovoltaics, and electrochromic windows. Some important lessons learned from these commercialization experiences can potentially help accelerate the commercialization of other exciting nanomaterials such as graphene.
