Coatings comprising carbon nanotubes and methods for forming same

Abstract

An electrically conductive film is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the film includes a plurality of single-walled nanotubes having a particular diameter. The disclosed film demonstrates excellent conductivity and transparency. Methods of preparing the film as well as methods of its use are also disclosed herein.

1 - 41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . A multi-layered structure comprising: 
 an electrically conductive film comprising a plurality of nanotubes with an outer diameter of less than 3.5 nm; and    a polymeric layer disposed on at least a portion of said electrically conductive film.    
     
     
         43 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein said nanotubes have an outer diameter of about 0.5 to 3.5 nm.  
     
     
         44 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein said nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), double-walled nanotubes (DWNTs), multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs), and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         45 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein said nanotubes are substantially single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs).  
     
     
         46 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein said nanotubes are present in said film at about 0.001 to about 1% based on weight.  
     
     
         47 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein the film has a volume resistances in the range of about 10 −2  ohms/cm to about 10 10  ohms/cm.  
     
     
         48 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein the film is in the form of a solid film, a foam, or a fluid.  
     
     
         49 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosetting polymers, elastomers, conducting polymers and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         50 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic hybrid polymers, phosphine oxides and chalcogenides.  
     
     
         51 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising a polymeric material wherein the nanotubes are dispersed substantially homogenously throughout the polymeric material.  
     
     
         52 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising a polymeric material wherein the nanotubes are present in a gradient fashion.  
     
     
         53 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising a polymeric material wherein the nanotubes are present on a surface of said polymeric material.  
     
     
         54 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising a polymeric material wherein the nanotubes are formed in an internal layer of said polymeric material.  
     
     
         55 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising an opaque substrate, wherein the nanotubes are present on a surface of said opaque substrate.  
     
     
         56 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of a dispersing agent, a binder, a cross-linking agent, a stabilizer agent, a coloring agent, a UV absorbent agent, and a charge adjusting agent.  
     
     
         57 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein the film has a total transmittance of at least about 60%.  
     
     
         58 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein said film has a thickness between about 0.005 to about 1,000 microns.  
     
     
         59 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein the nanotubes are oriented.  
     
     
         60 . The multi-layered structure of  claim 42 , wherein the nanotubes are oriented in the plane of the film.  
     
     
         61 - 72 . (canceled)