SUMMARY

Organic electronic devices are receiving growing interest because of their potential to employ lightweight, low-cost materials in a flexible architecture. Typically, indium tin oxide (ITO) is utilized as the transparent positive electrode in these devices due to its combination of high transmission in the visible spectrum and high electrical conductivity. However, ITO may ultimately hinder the full market integration of organic electronics due to its increasing cost, the limited availability of indium, lack of mechanical flexibility, and sustainability with regards to the environment and material utilization. Therefore, alternatives to ITO in organic electronics are currently being pursued. Transparent electrodes comprised of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are an appealing choice as a surrogate because of the extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties these 1-D structures posses. As such, the research presented in this dissertation has been conducted to advance the goal of manufacturing SWNT networks with transparent electrode properties that meet or exceed those of ITO. To this end, SWNT films were characterized with regard to the collective and individual optoelectronic properties of the SWNTs that comprise the network. Specifically, corroborative theoretical and experimental observations were employed to expand the understanding of how the optoelectronic properties of polydisperse and monodisperse SWNT networks are enhanced and sustained through chemical treatment and subsequent processing. In addition, the impact of interfacial electrical contact resistance between SWNT electrodes and metallic fingers often used in photovoltaic system applications was elucidated. In summary, the research presented in this dissertation can be leveraged with present state of the art in SWNT films to facilitate future SWNT electrode development.