Thick Film Deposition of Carbon Nanotubes by Alternating Electrophoresis

Electrophoretic deposition of ‎carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using ‎alternating current electric fields ‎‎(0.01-1000 Hz) is reported. Pure ‎acetone was used as suspending ‎medium. Two parallel gold ‎electrodes were used as depositing ‎substrate. The effect of depositing ‎parameters such as frequency and ‎three waveforms (sinusoidal, ‎rectangular and triangular) on ‎deposit yield was investigated. ‎According to our experiments, ‎thick films of CNTs are obtainable ‎at frequencies as low as 0.01 to 10 ‎Hz. Results showed that the deposit ‎yield decreases as the frequency ‎increases from 0.01 Hz to 1000 Hz. ‎The rectangular waveform yields ‎more deposit mass compared with ‎sinusoidal and triangular ‎waveforms. Comparison between ‎AC and DC electric fields revealed ‎that the deposition pattern is also ‎different in AC and DC electric ‎fields.‎