Building interconnects in carbon nanotube networks with metal halides for transparent electrodes

Achieving efficient and stable nanotube-nanotube interconnects is of great significance for translating the excellent electrical properties of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to two-dimensional networks. In the present work, a modification technology to build interconnecting nodes in CNT networks with copper-halide crystallites is demonstrated. A pulse photonic curing system is utilized to realize a rapid heating and cooling process at a microsecond timescale. This process enables the manipulation of copper-halide crystallites, which not only results in the formation of nanotube-nanotube interconnecting nodes, but also improves halide p-type doping. As a result, the CNT-halide hybrid films exhibit sheet resistances of 55-65 and 90-110 Omega/sq at 85% and 90% optical transmittance (lambda = 550 nm), respectively. The best dc-to-optical conductivity ratios reach 40. The sheet resistances are extremely stable without any degradation after 1000-h air exposure or 24-h heating at 400 degrees C, demonstrating their prospective potential for transparent electrodes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.