Polymer nanocomposites incorporating inorganic nanofillers have emerged as highly promising electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, combining mechanical compliance with robust conductive percolation networks. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are particularly attractive as conductive fillers because their high aspect ratio facilitates percolation at low loadings. Also, CNTs offer superior mechanical durability under deformation compared to rigid, fracture-prone metal nanowires. For EMI shielding, high electrical conductivity is critical as it enhances both reflection and absorption through efficient charge dissipation and conduction losses. However, achieving highly aligned conductive pathways without degrading the intrinsic electrical properties of CNTs remains a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate a non-destructive magnetic surface-functionalization and alignment strategy. Using a polydopamine (PDA)-mediated route, pristine multiwalled CNTs are uniformly decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (FMWCNTs). This enables highly effective magnetic field-driven alignment at fields as low as 10 mT, promoting the strategic formation of percolation networks. By optimizing the Fe₃O₄/MWCNT ratio for high saturation magnetization and uniform coverage, the aligned FMWCNTs exhibit significant electrical anisotropy, delivering a 10.7-fold higher electrical conductivity in the parallel configuration compared to the vertical configuration. These findings present a scalable, room-temperature platform for engineering directionally enhanced conductivity in polymer nanocomposites, with broad applicability in advanced EMI shielding, flexible electronics, and advanced packaging technologies.
With the advancement of the information society, the demand for highly integrated and multi-functional electronic devices is rapidly increasing. To meet these demands, high-performance transistors with low power consumption, high-speed operating, and mechanical flexibility are essential. Among various candidates, semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT)-based transistors, which exhibit intrinsically ambipolar characteristics, have emerged as promising components for CMOS-like circuits. In this study, s-SWCNT were selectively dispersed using rr-P3DDT, a thiophene-based conjugated polymer, and filed-effect transistors (FETs) were fabricated by inducting directional alignment for enhanced charge transport through an off-centered spin-coating process. The electrical characteristics of the fabricated s-SWCNT FETs were evaluated under various thermal annealing conditions (100℃, 150℃, 200℃, and 250℃). Off-centered spin-coated and high temperature annealed s- SWCNT FETs exhibited high field-effect mobilities over 5 cm²/Vs in both p-type and n-type operation, along with ideal Vshaped ambipolar transfer curves. These results indicate a significant enhancement in ambipolar performance due to efficient desorption of residual oxygen and water molecules in active channel via high temperature annealing. Furthermore, CMOS-like inverter circuits demonstrated an ideal inversion voltage (VIN = VDD/2) and a high voltage gain of approximately 9.5. These findings highlight the potential of SWCNT-based materials for realizing next-generation flexible electronic circuits that combine high-performance, energy efficiency, and simplified solution-processing.
A nanofiber was fabricated with carbon nanotubes for transparent electrodes. It was prepared with a composite solution of bio-molecules polycaprolactone (PCL) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by electrospinning on a glass substrate, following which its electrical characteristics were investigated. The content of MWCNTs was varied during electrospinning, while that of PCL was fixed. Further, a nanometer-thick thin film of silver was deposited on the nanofiber layer using a thermal evaporator to improve the electrical characteristics; the sheet resistance significantly reduced after this deposition. The results showed that this carbon nanotube nanofiber has potential applications in biotechnology and as a flexible transparent display material.
Diameter controlled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown using surface modified iron nano-particle catalysts with aminpropyltriethoxysilane (ASP). Iron nano-particles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl-oleic acid complex. Subsequently, APS modification was done using the iron nano-particles synthesized. Agglomeration of the iron nano-particles during the CNT growth process was dffectively prevented by the surface modification of nano-particles with the ASP. Plays as a linker material between Fe nano-particles and SiO₂ substrate resulting in blocking the migration of nano-particles. ASP also formed siliceous material covering iron nano-particles that prevented agglomeration of iron nano- particles at the early stages of the CNT growth. Therefore we could obtain the diameter controlled CNTs by blocking agglomeration of iron nano-particles.
The composites composed of conducting polymer (MEH-PPV), CdTe nanoparticles, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were spectroscopically and electrically characterized in their thin films. The composite films were prepared by spray coating. These composites were prepared from the mixture solution of MEH-PPV and CdTe-embedded MWNTs, in which CdTe nanoparticles were electrostatically bound to MWNTs. UV/vis and PL spectra were analyzed to investigate the optical absorbance and emission of the composite films. In addition, their structural, electrochemical, and electrical properties were studied by transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and I-V measurement.
An engine oil sensor based on multiwall carbon nanotubes was fabricated with screen printing method. Since carbon nanotubes are generally intertwined, dispersion of the carbon nanotubes in the binding agent (ethyl cellulose, a-terpineol, frit) is a key factor for large yield of engine oil sensor. By conventional dispersion method, a hand-mill method, the maximum yield was 80% at most. However, we used the hand ultrasonic, in order to increase the yield of the sensors. As a results, our engine oil sensor fabricated by the screen printing method shows excellent yield rate of 97%, when we dispersed a paste by the hand ultrasonic method.
In this work, electrochemical characteristics and optical transmittance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) counter electrodes which had different amount of CNTs in CNTs slurries were analyzed. Two-step heat treatment processes were applied to achieve well-fabricated CNTs electrode. Three sets of CNTs electrodes and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with CNTs counter electrodes were prepared. As the amount of CNTs increased, sheet resistance of CNTs electrode decreased. CNTs electrode with low sheet resistance had low electrochemical impedance and fast redox reaction. On the other hand, in case of CNTs counter electrode with low density of CNTs, performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell was improved due to its high optical transmittance. We found that the transmittance of CNTs counter electrode influence the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been significantly used for the field emitters for display applications. However, the lifetime of CNT emitters which are formed by screen printing technique is not guaranteed yet, because the constituents in CNT paste affect the lifetime of CNTs. The CNT pastes for screen printing are normally composed of organic vehicles (nitro cellulose, ethyl cellulose, etc) and additives (glass frits, indium tin oxide (ITO), etc) with CNTs. In this study, the effects of constituents in CNT pastes on the lifetime and emission characteristics of CNTs were investigated by thermal and electrical analysis. Use of glass frits worsened the lifetime and electron emission of CNTs. However, an addition of ITO to CNT paste rather improved the lifetime of CNTs. Degradation of CNTs was small when nitro cellulose was used in CNT paste as an organic vehicle.
Recently the solution-based thin film technology has often been treated in the field of device fabrication owing to easy process and convenience for the development of various semiconductor devices and sensors. We deposited on glass substrate single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)/silane hybrid thin films by multiple spray-coating which is one of solution-based processes, and examined their electrical response for humidity. Generally silane binders which are often mixed in carbon nanotube (CNT) solution to adhere CNTs to substrate well form easily each own functionalized group on the surface of CNTs after they are hardened by way of the hydrolysis reaction. In this work, we investigated how silane binders (TEOS (tetraethoxy silane), MTMS (methyltrimethoxysilane) and VTMS (vinyltrimethoxysilane)) in CNT thin films make effect to their electrical response on humidity. As the result, we found that the resistance in the samples using TEOS was changed dramatically while it was almost invariant in the samples using MTMS and VTMS for increasing humidity.