Polymer composites based on carbon nanotubes for printed electronics

Abstract

Nanomaterials are known for their superior properties, and for that are the most investigated group of materials these days. These properties were utilized by the authors in new type of polymer thick film composition. Polymer compositions filled with carbon nanotubes are topic of interest in fabrication of new type printed electronics circuits, dedicated for production of elastic displays, transparent electrodes, EM shields, and various types of sensors such as pressure, temperature or biochemical sensors. Investigated materials were poly(methyl methacrylate) filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Several polymer compositions were prepared with different concentration of polymer in solvent. Different amount of carbon nanotubes were added to each resin. Compositions were homogenized, screen printed on polyester substrate and cured. Resistance changes in function of polymer concentration were elaborated. Different concentration of polymer in solvent has significant influence on film thickness. As the result, fabricated thick film electrodes have less polymer concentration. In such composites more nanotube interconnections are present and more conductive paths are created.