Electronic properties of optically transparent single-walled carbon nanotube films

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films of various densities were fabricated and the optoelectronic properties studied. Several deposition techniques were developed, including filtration, stamping, self-assembly, spraying, and slot coating. Film conductivity was studied as a function of several parameters. At sub-monolayer densities, close to the percolation threshold, the film conductance follows the expected 2D percolation behavior. For films just thicker than a monolayer, the conductivity weakly increases up to a critical thickness, due to interlayer tube coupling. The frequency dependence of the conductivity follows the ac universality power law predicted for disordered systems. Due to the large intertube barriers (relative to the intratube resistance), the film conductivity increases as a power law in the constituent tube length. DC conductivities up to 2400 S/cm were measured, and increased to 6000 S/cm upon exposure to various dopants; however the binding is not stable at room temperature. The overall electrical stability of SWNT films is considered under various conditions.; Nanotube films thinner than 100 nm are transparent in the visible and infrared spectrum, with the transmission limited by absorption, rather than by reflection. The visible spectrum is relatively featureless, apart from a weak interband transition at 700 nm; therefore, the films have a neutral, "gray" color. The large ratio of DC to optical conductivity make SWNT films useful for several applications including displays, solar cells, and touch screens. A prototype organic solar cell using a SWNT anode as shown to have efficiencies comparable to cells using an indium tin oxide anode; integration with a metallic grid was demonstrated. Films were coated onto fabric and shown to impart electrical conductivity to the fabric. Films of various densities were fabricated as both the gate and the conducting channel of a field effect transistor (FET), making the first transparent and flexible transistor incorporating SWNTs.; SWNT FETs non-covalently functionalized with a porphyrin derivative, were used to monitor the light induced electron transfer between nanotubes and porphyrin. The wavelength and intensity dependence of this process was measured, indicating that the optical changes in the porphyrin electronic structure are coupled to the charge transport through the network.