Conducting, transparent and flexible substrates obtained from interfacial thin films of double-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Conducting and transparent interfacial thin films have been prepared from double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) and further deposited over glass and plastic (polyethylene terephtalate-PET) substrates. The morphology, vibrational structure as well as the optical and electrical properties have been evaluated. The influence of the DWCNT purifying treatment, the amount of carbon nanotubes used to prepare the thin films, and the annealing of the films at different temperatures has been evaluated to optimize both electrical and optical properties. Values of sheet resistance ranging from 0.53 to 27.8 kΩ □−1 and transmittance at 550nm from 59 to 90% have been achieved. Similar behavior obtained for films deposited on PET or glass substrates indicate a good reproducibility of the method, besides the high potential for further applications on flexible devices.