Influence of a silane coupling agent on the optoelectrical properties of carbon nanotube/binder hybrid thin films

We present the effect of a coupling agent on the optoelectrical properties of few-walled carbon nanotube (FWCNT)/epoxy resin hybrid films fabricated on glass substrates. The FWCNT/epoxy resin mixture solution was successfully prepared by the direct mixing of a $HNO_3$-treated FWCNT solution and epoxy resin. FWCNT/binder hybrid films containing different amounts of the coupling agent were then fabricated on UV-ozone-treated glass substrates. To determine the critical binder content ($X_c$), the effects of varying the binder content in the FWCNT/silane hybrid films on their optoelectrical properties were investigated. In this system, the $X_c$ value was approximately 75 wt%. It was found that above $X_c$, the coupling agent effectively decreased the sheet resistance of the films. From microscopy images, it was observed that by adding the coupling agent, more uniform FWCNT/binder films were formed.