ROOM TEMPERATURE DEPOSITION OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBE THIN FILMS

Abstract

A simple method for direct deposition of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks on flexible substrates at room temperature is reported. Deposition of thin films was carried out using a two-zone tube furnace where the nucleation and growth of SWNTs occur in vapor phase in the hot zone and condense onto substrates in the cold zone. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy reveal individual, uniformly distributed SWNTs over large areas (several cm 2 ). The coverage density of the SWNTs on flexible substrates can be controlled by the location of the substrates within the cold zone. The opto-electronic properties of the thin films indicated that they can be transparent and conducting with sheet resistances ranging from 4 to 21 kΩ/sq at corresponding transparencies of 51 to 87%, respectively.