Sains Malaysiana 46(7)(2017): 1103–1109

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4607-13

 

Characterization of Transparent Conducting Carbon Nanotube Thin Films Prepared via Different Methods

(Pencirian Filem Nipis Pengalir Lutsinar Tiub Nano Karbon Disediakan Melalui Pelbagai Kaedah)

 

ISKANDAR YAHYA*, LEE LI THENG, SERI MASTURA MUSTAZA, HUDA ABDULLAH

& NOWSHAD AMIN

 

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

 and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 26 Disember 2016/Diterima: 6 Mac 2017

 

ABSTRACT

The fabrication and characterization of transparent conductors based on single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin films were carried out in controlled environment and its performance compared. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of thin, transparent, optically homogeneous, electrically conducting films of metallic enriched single-walled carbon nanotubes via three different deposition techniques namely dip coating, vacuum filtration and Langmuir Blodgett. Optical characterization showed that the maximum transmittance, TM, in Vis region is ~ 96.3% and minimum surface roughness, Ra ~ 4.87 nm achieved via Langmuir-Blodgett technique. I-V characteristics shows minimum sheet resistance, Rs ~ 3.62 × 103 Ω/sq and maximum conductivity, σ ~ 27.65 Ω^-1cm^-1 for vacuum filtration technique. It is shown that SWCNT deposition technique significantly affects the optical and electrical characteristics of resulting thin films. Langmuir Blodgett method produced film with the lowest surface roughness of Ra ~ 4.87 nm and uniform conductivity of σ ~ 0.025  Ω^-1cm^-1, whereas vacuum filtration method produced film with the highest surface roughness of Ra ~ 12.83 nm and non-uniform conductivity, σ, ranging from ~ 0.199 to ~0.017 Ω^-1cm^-1 depending on the film dimensions.

 

Keywords: Single walled carbon nanotubes; thin films; transparent conductor

 

ABSTRAK

Fabrikasi dan pencirian pengalir lutsinar berdasarkan filem nipis tiub nano karbon dinding tunggal (SWCNT) telah dijalankan dalam persekitaran terkawal dan perbandingan prestasinya dibuat. Di sini, kita menunjukkan fabrikasi filem nipis, telus, homogen dan bersifat konduksi elektrik daripada karbon tiub nano dinding tunggal yang diperkaya secara metalik melalui tiga teknik pemendapan yang berbeza iaitu celup salutan, penapisan vakum dan Langmuir-Blodgett. Pencirian optik menunjukkan bahawa pemindahan maksimum, TM, bagi gelombang Vis adalah ~ 96.3% dan kekasaran permukaan minimum, Ra adalah ~ 4.87 nm dicapai melalui teknik Langmuir-Blodgett. Pencirian I-V menunjukkan rintangan helaian, Rs ~ 3.62 × 103 Ω/sq dan kekonduksian maksima, σ ~ 27.65 Ω^-1cm^-1 melalui teknik penapisan vakum. Ditunjukkan bahawa teknik pemendapan SWCNT memberi kesan yang signifikan terhadap ciri optikal dan elektrik filem nipis yang dihasilkan. Teknik Langmuir Blodgett menghasilkan filem nipis dengan kekasaran permukaan terendah iaitu Ra ~ 4.87 nm dan kekonduksian yang sekata pada nilai σ ~ 0.025 Ω^-1cm^-1, manakala teknik penapisan vakum menghasilkan filem nipis dengan kekasaran permukaan tertinggi iaitu Ra ~ 12.83 nm dan kekonduksian, σ, yang tidak sekata pada julat ~ 0.199 to ~0.017 Ω-1cm-1, bergantung kepada dimensi filem..

 

Kata kunci: Filem nipis; karbon tiub nano dinding tunggal; konduktor telus

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: Iskandar.yahya@ukm.edu.my