Temperature room, SWNT network

One of the major advantages of hquid deposition techniques for the formation of SWNT networks is that they occur at room temperature this allows inclusion of heat sensitive substrates like polymers plastics and glass (7 7). A second major advantage of liquid deposition techniques is the they deconstruct network formation into two separate steps, therefore SWNT growth and deposition occurred in two separate steps. This facilitates the deposition of SWNTs onto a wide variety of substrates. Additionally, this also allows the introduction of purification and/or modification steps between SWNT growth and deposition. 

Regardless of whether pm-ification or modification steps are employed liquid deposition of allows the formation of SWNT networks on a wide variety of substrates at room temperature without the use of complicated equipment. Further, these networks can be formed on transparent substrates like glass or plastic quickly (17,86-89). This property results in numerous novel sensor applications and such devices are expected to have a huge impact on the electronics industry in general (18,90-95). 

Figure 3. SWNT network formed by room-temperature deposition method developed in this group.

Thin networks of SWNT can be prepared as transparent and highly conducting films which, in addition, have very good mechanical properties. They can be prepared in a reproducible way by a rather simple method of fabrication at room temperature that does not require high vacuum conditions or expensive equipment. Moreover, SWNT thin films have no equal in the tunability of their electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. By varying the type of nanotube used or the film preparation procedures, researchers can vary electrical and optical responses by several orders of... 

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