Homogeneous carbon nanotube/polymer composites for electrical applications

Homogeneous carbon nanotube/polymer composites were fabricated using noncovalently functionalized, soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). These composites showed dramatic improvements in the electrical conductivity with very low percolation threshold (0.05-0.1 wt % of SWNT loading). By significantly improving the dispersion of SWNTs in commercial polymers, we show that only very low SWNT loading is needed to achieve the conductivity levels required for various electrical applications without compromising the host polymer's other preferred physical properties and processability. In contrast to previous techniques, our method is applicable to various host polymers and does not require lengthy sonication. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.