Preparation and enhanced conducting properties of open networks of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/carbon nanotube hybrids

The preparation of new high conductivity nanohybrid open networks of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (P3HT/SWNTs) by spin coating deposition is reported. The novel open 2D-networks prepared at high spinning speed showed a conductivity three orders of magnitude higher than that measured for networks deposited at low spinning speed although the individual nanotubes are not seen to form a direct connection between the electrodes. The strong improvement of the conductivity performances is explained in terms of the formation of a new nanohybrid system consisting of thin sheaths of P3HT wrapped around SWNTs forming complex SWNT/P3HT/SWNT junctions yielding a soldering effect of the interposed P3HT sheath. The results open the way to molecular electronics devices exploiting the long-range conduction capability of nanotubes together with the thin P3HT sheath short range soldering effect at the hybrid nanowire junctions.