Method of applying carbon nanotube films to plastic substrates

Abstract

A method of forming a film of carbon nanotubes on a substrate includes deposition a solution of electrically charged carbon nanotubes on the surface of a substrate, adsorption of the electrically charged carbon nanotubes onto a surface the substrate of opposite electrical charge through dip coating, using a material with a surface electrical charge opposite to that of the electrically charged carbon nanotubes, and formation of a film of carbon nanotubes on the substrate, wherein the film comprises a plurality of electrically charged nanotubes extending in varying orientations but parallel to a facing surface of the substrate.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of forming a film of carbon nanotubes on a polymer substrate, comprising:
 preparing a solution of carbon nanotubes having a first electrical charge,  
 depositing the solution on a surface of the substrate, the surface having a second electrical charge opposite to the first electrical charge,  
 wherein the carbon nanotubes adsorb onto the surface of the substrate, and  
 forming a film of carbon nanotubes on the substrate, wherein the film comprises a plurality of electrically charged nanotubes extending in varying orientations parallel to the surface of the substrate.  
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastic substrate is alkylated poly(ethyleneimine). 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the depositing comprises one of dip coating, spraying, painting, and wiping. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the substrate is immersed in a solution of about 1 to about 100 mg/mL of alkylated poly(ethylene imine) in hexanol and dried. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises interconnected carbon nanotubes that form a two-dimensional conducting network. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the film has controlled density. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the film is substantially a monolayer of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the depositing forms a patterned film of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is any geometrical shape.