Laser images recording on aerosol-synthesized single-walled carbon nanotube films

Abstract

It is shown that images on semitransparent conducting films of aerosol-synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can be recorded using focused low-power radiation of a He–Ne laser operating at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. Both free-standing films and those deposited on glass or polymer substrates can be used. Laser recording of images on the polymer-supported films is possible due to their transparency increased as a result of chemical reactions between iron nanoparticles encapsulated in SWCNTs and the products of local thermal decomposition of the polymer. Recording on the free-standing SWCNT films and those supported on glass substrates was performed upon acid treatment of the film surface.