Effect of purification on the electrical properties of transparent conductive films fabricated from single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract Transparent conductive films (TCFs) made of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are usually fabricated using highly pure SWCNTs. Obtaining pure SWCNTs is an important step for harnessing their excellent electrical properties. Herein, we studied the effect of purification of SWCNTs by thermal and acid processes on the electrical properties of TCFs. These purification processes also affected the length and diameter of the SWCNT bundles. The purity of SWCNTs was determined by UV–visible-near-infrared spectroscopy and the metal content by thermogravimetric analysis. TCFs were made by spraying aqueous suspensions of SWCNTs having different purities onto polyethylene terephthalate substrates, and the ratios of dc to optical conductivities of the films were compared. Thermally purified (TP) SWCNT TCFs had a higher ratio than thermally and acid-purified (TAP) ones even though the purity of the TP-SWCNTs was lower than that of the TAP-SWCNTs. The conducting paths of the SWCNT bundle networks in the TP-SWCNT TCFs were well organized, because nanosized graphitic nanoparticles and metal catalysts occupied the spaces between the CNT bundles or networks without hindering the network connections. Although the SWCNT purity affected the conductivity of the SWCNT TCFs, the network property of lower junction resistance with smaller bundle diameter was more influential on film conductivity.