Preparation, characterization and micromolding of multi-walled carbon nanotube polydimethylsiloxane conducting nanocomposite polymer

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 63; no. 13; pp. 1203 - 1206
• Main Authors: Khosla, A., Gray, B.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 31.05.2009
• Subjects: Electrical properties; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposite; Polydimethylsiloxane; Soft lithography; Soft lithography; Nanocomposite; Electrical properties; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Polydimethylsiloxane
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2009.02.043

We present the preparation, characterization and micromolding of a flexible electrically conducting nanocomposite polymer which has been prepared by ultrasonic agitation with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). We demonstrate microfabrication of the conducting nanocomposite through soft lithography micromolding of hole and post structures (minimum feature size of 200 ± 10 μm, with a height of approximately 200 μm) against a polymer master. We characterize and compare the current–voltage characteristics of films 1 mm × 1 mm × 200 µm in size as a function of different weight percentages of MWCNT (ranging from 0.8 to 2.5 wt.%) with the result that the conductivity remains low until approximately 1.5 wt.%.