Self assembled transparent conducting network of multi-walled carbon nanotubes formed by evaporation

We develop a novel bubble-array technique to create a network pattern of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on glass, through evaporation of a thin layer of the suspension of MWCNT. Spherical bubbles of approximately equal diameter (∼25μm) are created at the air-fluid interface. On complete evaporation of the solvent (1,2 dicloroethane), MWCNT self assemble to form a connected and roughly polygonal network. The glass surface thus becomes electrically conducting, while the gaps in the network allow considerable transmission of light in the visible range. The concentration of the MWCNT suspension has been varied to optimize the balance between sheet conductance and transmittance.