Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S06189/01
Title:	Nano-engineering of carbon nanotube-polymer composites for device applications
Principal Investigator:	Kroto, Professor Sir H
Other Investigators:	Walton, Dr D
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Chemistry
Organisation:	University of Sussex
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 April 2003	Ends:	31 March 2006	Value (£):	300,676
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Characterisation Materials Synthesis & Growth Optoelect. Devices & Circuits
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The science and technological potential of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) will be realised only in a multi-disciplinary activity, where researchers of all disciplines work towards common goals. Both Sussex and Surrey have over the years maintained an international reputation in nanotechnology and electronics, which is now at a stage where the exploitation of CNTs as a technological material is feasible. Mufti-walled carbon nanotube (MWCN)- and boron-doped multi-walled carbon nanotube (BMWCN)- polystyrene composite films are produced using a vacuum-casting technique. The CNTs containing films can be mixed with the polystyrene to give a widely controllable resistivity range which allows for composites that exhibit both positive and negative temperature coefficients, depending on the mixes used. The composite films properties can be tailored to exhibit high electrical conductivity, for example, which can be optimised for device applications which include electron field emitters. The emission can be to vacuum as in a conventional cold cathode, or to a solid such as a polymer LED, where there are many problems associated with n-type injection to wide band gap thin films. This programme is tailored to examine the potential of this CNT-polymer technology for future inexpensive large area electronic applications, which could have wide commercial applicability as an active material. We will examine the use of these composite films in its passive form for applications where electromagnetic shielding and adsorption at microwave frequencies becomes important.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.sussex.ac.uk