Electrical Properties and Conductivity Mapping of Thin Multilayered Films Containing Different Types of Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

This study compared the electrical conductivities of transparent films containing carbon nanotubes with different wall numbers (single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs), thin-wall nanotubes (TWNTs), and multiwall nanotubes (MWNTs)). A layer-by-layer fabrication method was chosen to achieve fine control over film transparency. This produced homogeneously dispersed carbon nanotube-polymer composite films over the whole sample area because the method prevents the self-aggregation of carbon nanotubes. Electrical conductivity measurements using the four-probe method showed that TWNTs formed better electrically conductive films than SWNTs and MWNTs. Conductive atomic force microscopy revealed that the distribution of conductive channels depends on the morphology of the nanotubes with different wall numbers in the composite. The close-packed networks of TWNTs in the composite film provided the most effective conductive channels after thermal annealing at 300 degrees C.