Metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes for transparent conductive films

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from arc-discharge production were separated into highly enriched metallic and semiconducting factions in a previously reported procedure. The fraction containing predominately metallic SWNTs was used in the fabrication of neat nanotube films of various optical transmittances. Several fabrication methods were evaluated, in which the vacuum filtration was identified as being more effective. The results consistently demonstrated high performance by the separated metallic SWNTs (with surface resistivity values to be lower than 100 Ω/sq for 80% optical transmittance at 550 nm), promising great potentials in the development of carbon nanotube-based transparent conductive films for electrodes and other devices.