Abstract: A method of forming patterned thin films includes the steps of providing a porous membrane and a solution including a plurality of solid constituents and at least one surface stabilizing agent for preventing the solid constituents from flocculating out of suspension. The solution is dispensed onto a surface of the membrane. The solution is then removed by filtration through the membrane, wherein a patterned film coated membrane comprising a plurality of primarily spaced apart patterned regions are formed on the membrane. In one embodiment the method further includes the step of blocking liquid passage through selected portions of the membrane to form a plurality of open membrane portions and a plurality of blocked membrane portions before the dispensing step. The dispensing step includes ink jet printing the solution. An article having a patterned nanotube-including film thereon includes a substrate, and a patterned nanotube including film disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: An highly porous electrically conducting film that includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, nanowires or a combination of both. The highly porous electrically conducting film exhibits an electrical resistivity of less than 0.1 O·cm at 25 C and a density of between 0.05 and 0.70 g/cm3. The film can exhibit a density between 0.50 and 0.85 g/cm3 and an electrical resistivity of less than 6×1031 3 O·cm at 25 C. Also included is a method of forming these highly porous electrically conducting films by forming a composite film using carbon nanotubes or nanowires and sacrificial nanoparticles or microparticles. At least a portion of the nanoparticles or microparticles are then removed from the composite film to form the highly porous electrically conducting film.

Abstract: A supramolecular polymer and its composite with carbon nanotubes, CNTs, are described. The supramolecular polymer is an ensemble of precursors that independently contain “sticky feet” for non-covalent binding to carbon nanotube surfaces and associative groups. There is at least one of the associative groups covalently bound to each of the precursor and there is at least one covalently connecting moiety connecting associative groups within a precursor or connecting an associative group to a linker to a “sticky foot” in a precursor. When the associative groups are in a dissociative state, the supramolecular polymer precursors and CNTs can be combined to form a dispersion. Upon promotion, the dissociated associative groups in the dispersion can associate to yield a CNT/supramolecular polymer composite.

Abstract: An electrical or electro-optical device (100) includes a first layer (110) having a first composition. The first composition includes a plurality of electrically connected particles. A second layer (130) has a second composition, the second composition including a plurality of electrically connected particles. A composite layer (120) is disposed between the first and second layer. The composite layer is an interpenetrated network of a third and a fourth composition, wherein the third composition is different from the fourth composition. A first electrically interconnected network extends from the first composition in the first layer (110) to the third composition throughout a thickness of the composite layer (120), and a second electrically interconnected network extends from the second composition in the second layer (130) to the fourth composition throughout the thickness of the composite layer.