Facile method for enhancing conductivity of printed carbon nanotubes electrode via simple rinsing process

• Published in: Organic electronics Vol. 47; pp. 174 - 180
• Main Authors: Li, Xinlin, Kim, Keon-Woo, Joo, Sang Woo, Seo, Junseok, Lee, Jihoon, An, Tae Kyu, Kim, Se Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2017
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Dispersion; Electrohydrodynamic printing; Macromolecule; Organic field-effect transistors; Polystyrene sulfonate; Carbon nanotubes; Macromolecule; Organic field-effect transistors; Dispersion; Polystyrene sulfonate; Electrohydrodynamic printing
• ISSN: 1566-1199; 1878-5530
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orgel.2017.05.020

We report a simple rinsing process to enhance the conductivity of printed carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes. Polystyrene sulfonate(PSS)-wrapped CNTs were well dispersed in ethanol for printing via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing. PSS as a surfactant reduces the conductivity of CNT electrodes, restricting their applications in electronic devices. Even though the PSS rinsing process is necessary, it promotes delamination of CNTs. The challenges associated with the rinsing process and the delamination of CNTs were overcome in this study by introducing a polymer, poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (P(VB-co-VA-co-VAc)) as an adhesion layer. The use of P(VB-co-VA-co-VAc) increased the adhesion between the CNTs printed by the EHD jet technique and the underlying substrate during the CNT rinsing process. The rinsing process led to a significant enhancement in the conductivity of the CNT electrodes, and these electrodes were applied to organic field-effect transistor devices based on TIPS-pentacene. The device exhibited a high field-effect mobility of 0.25 cm2/(V·s). [Display omitted] •Polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) as a surfactant reduces the CNT conductivity.•The PSS rinsing process is necessary, which promotes delamination of CNTs.•P(VB-co-VA-co-VAc) increased the adhesion between the CNTs during rinsing process.•We report a rinsing process to enhance the printed carbon nanotube conductivity.•The transistor applying CNT electrodes exhibited a high mobility of 0.25 cm2/(V·s).