Synthesis and electrical properties of a single walled carbon nanotube–borosilicate glass composite

Single walled carbon nanotube–borosilicate glass composite has been fabricated in a controlled atmosphere furnace by a melt-quench technique. Current–voltage characteristics were analyzed at room temperature and found to be non-ohmic in behavior. The temperature dependence of the current–voltage characteristics was ascertained and it was observed that the electrical conductivity of the composite increased substantially with temperature. Analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy clearly demonstrates that the carbon nanotubes are randomly distributed in the form of bundles throughout the glass. The charge conduction mechanism of the composite was found to be well explainable by the fluctuation induced tunneling (FIT) model.