Stabilization of gold doped single-walled carbon nanotube film by electropolymerization

We report poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) as a conducting polymer useful for stabilizing gold chloride (HAuCl4)-doped single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) film. A specific area was sprayed with SWCNT on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate supported by a slide glass, followed by HAuCl4 doping. The SWCNT film was electropolymerized with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT). Transparency of 91% at 550 nm wavelength with 150 Omega/sq of sheet resistance was achieved with this method. Unlike general AuCl3 doped SWCNT film, the sheet resistance remained stable for up to 4 months. The electropolymerization of PEDOT on the doped film could eliminate the hygroscopic effects through the redox reaction between EDOT and gold chloride salts. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4745198]