CNT-based photopatternable nanocomposites with high electrical conductivity and optical transparency

In this paper, a nanocomposite approach is introduced to provide both electrically conductive and optically transparent micropatterns on any flexible substrate employing photolithography-based microfabrication. The nanocomposite materials combine the highly directional nanoscopic networks and electrical conductivity of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with the photopatternability and optical transparency of SU-8 photoresist. The photopatternable nanocomposites have yielded high optical transparency of 90% and high electrical conductivity of 27.5 S m(-1) with the minimal feature resolution of 10 mu m. Additionally, an interesting nano-bridge phenomenon has been discovered during fabrication of the microscale features. Moreover, the photopatternable transparent conductive nanocomposite has demonstrated its application to biomedical sensing for exceptional adaptability and flexibility.