Objective Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are well known for their unique electronic, thermal and mechanical properties. Ensembles of CNTs form networks that can be transparent and at the same time conductive, showing great potential for replacing the currently used indium tin oxide (ITO), whose future availability is at risk due to the impoverishment of the world's sources of indium. CNT networks offer not only an alternative to ITO but also advantages like flexibility, useful with plastic substrates, or avoiding the contamination from ITO of other device materials.The studies of transparent conductive CNT networks are still at an early stage and despite their good performance the measured properties are below expectation due to the presence of different tube types (metallic and semiconducting) in the same sample, impurities, defectious tubes and interconnection problems. One aim of this project is to explore recently developed possibilities of sorting CNTs according to type for realizing improved and tunable networks. Due to the high anisotropy of CNTs, their macroscopic organization has an impact on the properties of the network: disorganization brings an averaging-down of the properties of individual tubes that thus could be brought to macroscopic scale only by ordering. The applicant has previously shown that liquid crystalline materials can be used to unidirectionally align CNTs. We propose in this project to use this approach also to form aligned networks, studying the relation between electrical conductivity and degree of order and evaluating the corresponding percolation thresholds. The networks will be implemented in device configurations such as LCDs, OLEDs, and solar cells. Also graphene has recently shown to have excellent properties as transparent electrode, but further studies are required of this new material. In combination with CNTs, one could envisage multifunctional electrodes with ordering and optically polarizing properties. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystalsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphenenatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrypost-transition metals Keywords alignment aplications carbon nanotubes fractionation liquid crystals transparent conductive film Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-2-2.ERG - Marie Curie Action: "European Reintegration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-ERG-2008 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG) Coordinator AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILE EU contribution € 45 000,00 Address LUNGOTEVERE GRANDE AMMIRAGLIO THAON DI REVEL 76 00196 Roma Italy See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Giuseppe Fonti (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
