Evaluation of Thin Film Surface Shape as a Function of Dispersant Concentration in Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Fabrication via the Electrospray Method

Abstract

Electrospray deposition (ESD) is a method of producing a variety of thin films, and is widely employed for industrial-use electrostatic coatings, such as automotive paint. In ESD, the electrospray phenomenon is utilized to produce nanothin films using a simple device configuration. In this study, we fabricated carbon nanotube (CNT) thin films via ESD, using a multi-walled nanotube solution. We found that irregularities formed on the thin film surface because the surfactant crystallized. However, the CNT thin film, for which sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was not used, exhibited a uniform thickness.