Carbon nanosheets derived from soluble pitch molecules and their applications in organic transistors

•Pitch based carbon nanosheet (CNS) was fabricated directly on SiO2/Si.•A conductivity of pitch based CNS is approximately 30,000 S/m.•Pentacene-based organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) were fabricated on CNS/SiO2/Si without using a transfer process.•Pitch based CNSs are conductive enough for use as electrodes in OTFT.

We report a synthesis method for carbon nanosheets (CNSs) using pitch prepared by reforming a commercially available naphtha cracking bottom oil, which is often used as a carbon fiber precursor. The pitch solution is spin-coated on a silicon wafer without using a catalyst support. After stabilization and carbonization, the CNSs as thin as 2 nm show an electrical conductivity of approximately 30,000 S/m. Although the CNSs do not have a well-developed graphitic structure, as observed using Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, they are conductive enough for use as electrodes in an organic thin film transistor.

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