Effects of surfactant and fabrication procedure on the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding of single-walled carbon nanotube films

Two different procedures of carbon nanotube film fabrication are discussed. The size, structural, and optical characteristics as well as electrophysical properties of initial nanotubes and the prepared buckypaper are studied. A nature of the observed temperature activated charge transport is discussed. Surprisingly, these data shows a fairly good agreement with the energy gap, originating from SWCNT curvature effects and intertube coupling. The parameters of electromagnetic radiation–buckypaper interaction are derived for the range of 37.5–78.33 GHz. Strong attenuation of the radiation up to 41 dB in this range is observed. Such results render this material promising for protection against electromagnetic radiation in sensitive devices and systems.