In many cases, electronics packaging requires electrical conductivity, barrier to oxygen (and other gases), and optical transparency. These three properties have simultaneously been realized through the use of aqueous layer-by-layer (LbL) processing, in the form of a polymer composite nanocoating. By incorporating carbon nanotubes with pyrene-functionalized polyethyleneimine, and layering with montmorillonite clay, a conductive 'nano brick wall' structure has been created. This LbL film reduces the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the PET substrate, while simultaneously imparting electrical conductivity (s). Owing to the relatively small thickness of the LbL film (~100-300 nm) and the uniform dispersion of nanoparticle filler, optical transparency of the substrate has been maintained. LbL films are flexible relative to traditional coatings for these applications (e.g., ITO), and processing occurs under ambient conditions with water as the only solvent.

Nanotube-clay multilayer thin film, enabled with pyrene-functionalized PEI, as electrically conductive gas barrier layer

245th National Meeting (2013)

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