Inkjet-printed stretchable single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes with excellent mechanical properties

Inkjet-printed single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin films on stretchable substrates were developed, and their electrical properties were investigated. The 1- and 5-layer printed SWCNT thin films had sheet resistances of 169.76 and 19.08 Omega/sq, respectively, and maintained conductive properties under 100% tensile strain. A nitric acid treatment significantly improved the conductivity of the SWCNT electrodes, and after an initial increase, the 5-layer printed SWCNT electrodes showed a normalized resistance of less than 1.2 after 1000 cycles under 100% tensile strain. The potential of the inkjet-printed SWCNT thin films for stretchable electrode applications was demonstrated via integration with a light-emitting diode. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.