Fabrication of carbon nanotube transparent conductive films by vacuum filtration method

Abstract

Conductive thin films of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are very promising materials as transparent electrodes because of their high conductivity, transparency, flexibility and low cost of fabrication compared to traditional materials like indium tin oxide (ITO). The quality of the film depends on the type of CNTs, dispersion conditions, fabrication and post-treatment processes. Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were firstly produced by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and then thin films were fabricated by vacuum filtration method. The post-treatments, acid treatment and annealing, were applied to improve the film quality and optoelectronic properties. Homogeneity, density, morphology, the resistivity of the fabricated SWCNT thin films were analyzed by various characterization methods.