Macro-aligned carbon Nanotube–Polymer matrix by dielectrophoresis and transferring process

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based polymer matrix composites have been developed for various applications such as transparent electrodes and heaters. To enhance the conductivity of the SWCNT/polymer matrix, diverse alignment technologies for the directional alignment of carbon nanoparticles in the polymer matrix have been studied. In the present study, we demonstrate macroscale dielectrophoretic self-alignment of SWCNTs with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using a high alternating current (AC) voltage (150 Vpp, 10kHz) without the use of a semiconductor for the fabrication of electrodes. Owing to the latitudinal alignment of the SWCNTs by the AC field, the resistance values of the SWCNT substrates differ in the directions. Furthermore, transfer of the aligned SWCNTs onto the nitrocellulose (NC) substrate using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) evaporation yields a one-directional multiple aligned SWCNTs/transparent NC sheet that provides approximately 3.3 times higher conductivity than that achieved by alignment in another direction.