title: Carbon nanotube network formation from evaporating sessile drops.
abstract: Fabrication of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks using evaporation of SDS-SWNT sessile drops on a hydrophobized silicon substrate is reported. It is suggested that the organization of nanotubes during evaporation is controlled by aggregates (in the SDS-SWNT dispersion) and hydrophobicity of the substrate. On hydrophobic substrates, the evaporation of SDS-SWNT sessile drops proceeds through constant contact area. On hydrophilic substrates, nanotube aggregates in SDS-SWNT dispersion stop the contact line from moving, resulting in the formation of "coffee-stains". The (partial) removal of aggregates by centrifugation is essential for a freely moving contact line leading to the organization of nanotubes into a network of homogeneously distributed nanotubes on the most hydrophobic substrate. The evaporation of sessile drops was characterized by microscopic, spectroscopic, and topographical techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Sciences, The University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK. W.Small@chem.hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Chris D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loos
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: in het Panhuis