Preparation of transparent and conductive thin films of carbon nanotubes using a spreading/coating technique

This study demonstrates large-scale purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and preparation of transparent and conductive thin films of carbon nanotubes using a spreading/coating technique. Wire-bar, which wraps a stainless steel wire around a shaft, is useful equipment to spread inks on flexible materials. Coating of purified SWCNT film thickness was tunable depending not only on the wire-bar thickness but also on the SWCNT concentration in dispersion. The SWCNT concentration in the dispersion increased concomitantly with the increase of the C-60(OH)(n) concentration. These two factors, wire-bar thickness and SWCNT concentration in dispersion, control the film's conductivity and transparency. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.