Preparation and studies of transparent conductive monolayers of multiwall carbon nanotubes on quartz and flexible polymer with the use of modified Langmuir technique

•We have used a modified Langmuir technique to obtain a homogeneous MWCNTs layers.•MWCNTs layers were characterized by high light transmission and high conductivity.•A significant decrease in electrical resistance after annealing has been observed. An improved Langmuir method is described and applied to produce transparent, conductive and flexible single layer of multiwall carbon nanotubes. This paper presents properties of multiwall carbon nanotubes spread on water subphase and in a form of Langmuir–Schaefer layers on a quartz plate and on flexible polymeric foil. The results show very high homogeneity of the monolayers on a very large area obtained with the use of the proposed modified Langmuir method and indicate their relatively high radiation transmission and electrical conductivity. Laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopic images of the layers are presented. The microscopic visualization of the nanolayers is supported by spectroscopic studies (transmittance, photoacoustics) in the range from ultraviolet to mid-infrared. Moreover, electric measurements (current versus voltage characteristics) of the carbon material on the polymeric foil are presented. The obtained results of the investigated multiwall carbon nanotubes are discussed in a view of potential application in optoelectronics.