Carbon nanotube-conductive polymer composite electrode for transparent polymer light emitting device application

PMSE 334

Ting Zhang, gliu@lbl.gov, Amanda S. Simens, Andrew Minor, and Gao Liu, gliu@lbl.gov. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, MS 70R108B, Berkeley, CA 94720
Due to the large aspect ratio of single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), less than one percent dispersion of SWNT in polymer matrix can form a continued electron pathway without significantly sacrificing the light transmittance of the polymer film. An amphiphlic conductive polymer was developed to effectively disperse SWNT in solution phase. The conductive polymer and SWCN composite film is solvent processible and readily applied onto the light emitting material using printing or other solvent-casting techniques. Conductivity of SWNT composites was improved significantly compared with conductive polymer host, while still preserving good light transmittance property of the host polymer. The conductivity of SWNT composites depends on the efficient dispersion of the SWNTs in a polymer matrix. Amphiphilic polymer is required to uniformly disperse SWNTs in solutions without chemical pretreatment of the SWNT. TEM images reveal the intricate interaction between the SWNT and polymer host.