Only in recent times has the true potential of cellulose as a high-end functional and sustainable material been realised. As the world’s most abundant resource cellulose has been utilised by man throughout history for timber, paper and yarns. It is found in every plant as a hierarchical material and can be extracted and converted into fibres which are of great use, especially in the form of nanofibrous materials. This thesis has focused on the utilisation and ability of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to generate structural colour in fabricated thin films. This has been achieved in two ways: Firstly, the natural morphology of CNCs and their ability to form a suspension have been applied to a layer-by-layer (LbL) regime to produce tunable Bragg reflecting thin films. Secondly, a novel technique combining profilometry and spectroscopy has been developed to estimate the distribution of CNCs within EISA thin films and correlate this with the optical properties of the film. This thesis reports the successful fabrication of synthetic CNC LbL Bragg reflecting thin films. The film was compiled using an additive layer-by-layer technique which allowed the construction of a multi-layered thin film and control over individual layer thicknesses and refractive index. Also reported is the discovered reflection of both left and right handed circularly polarised light (CPL) from CNC EISA thin films. These reflections were found to correlate with CNC distribution within the thin films. The distribution of CNCs was estimated using a novel technique which combined spectroscopically measured film absorbance as a function of the volume of the film area under investigation. The specific volumes were calculated using profilometry measurements and the beam spot size used in the spectroscopy measurements.

Este trabalho estudou os efeitos de algumas soluções irrigadoras sobre a microdureza dentinária e capacidade de remoção da smear layer. As soluções testadas foram: soro fisiológico, hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5%, EDTA a 15% em pH 7,3, EDTA a 15% em pH 9,0, ácido etileno diamino di-succínico (EDDS), Smear Clear® e BioPure MTAD®. Para o estudo de microdureza, 70 fragmentos de dentina medindo 5x5 mm foram obtidos do terço médio de hemissecções radiculares de incisivos bovinos, sendo separados aleatoriamente em sete grupos. A microdureza Knoop inicial da dentina foi aferida por meio de microdurômetro acionado com uma carga de 25 g por 15 s. As amostras eram então tratadas pela imersão nas soluções experimentais por um minuto, após o qual tinham a sua microdureza mensurada. Após mais quatro minutos de imersão nas soluções testadas, os valores de microdureza eram novamente registrados. Os valores de microdureza iniciais e após cada imersão nas soluções testadas foram então submetidos à análise estatística (two-way ANOVA). Para a avaliação da capacidade de remoção da smear layer, 35 raízes de incisivos bovinos foram separadas aleatoriamente em sete grupos e instrumentadas pela técnica step-back. Cada grupo recebeu um tipo de solução irrigadora experimental, ficando estas em contato com as paredes dentinárias por 5 minutos. Os espécimes foram cisalhados e observados ao microscópio eletrônico de varredura com um aumento de 350 vezes para avaliação da remoção da smear layer. Fotomicrografias do terço médio do canal radicular foram obtidas e, por meio de uma grade de integração, foi contabilizado o percentual de áreas contendo smear layer. Os resultados da análise da microdureza dentinária indicaram que, com exceção do soro fisiológico, todas as soluções testadas causaram uma redução significativa desta propriedade. Hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5%, EDDS e Smear Clear® apresentaram resultados semelhantes, causando diminuição da microdureza menos acentuada do que o BioPure MTAD® ou as soluções de EDTA em pH 7,3 ou 9,0. Para a análise de remoção da smear layer, as soluções de EDTA em pH 7,3 ou 9,0, o Smear Clear® e o BioPure MTAD® mostraram resultados semelhantes. O EDDS mostrou semelhanças estatísticas tanto com o hipoclorito de sódio como com as outras soluções quelantes testadas, ocupando uma posição intermediária na capacidade de remoção da smear layer. Pode-se concluir que o EDTA em pHs 7,3 ou 9,0 são estatisticamente semelhantes, bem como o BioPure MTAD®. Enquanto o Smear Clear® é capaz de remover a smear layer sem diminuir a microdureza dentinária, o EDDS reduz moderadamente a microdureza dentinária, porém é deficiente na limpeza das paredes do canal radicular. / This study evaluated the effects of some irrigating solutions on dentine microhardness and smear layer removal. The tested solutions were: saline, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, 15% EDTA in pH 7.3, 15% EDTA in pH 9.0, ethylene diamine dissuccinic acid (EDDS); Smear Clear® and BioPure MTAD®. For the microhardness study, 70 5x5 mm dentine stubs obtained from the middle third of root hemisections were randomly divided in seven groups. The initial Knoop Hardness Values of the samples were assessed by a microhardness tester with a 25 g load, for 15 s. The samples were then immersed on tested solutions for one minute, after which the KHN values were again measured. One more evaluation of microhardness was performed after four more minutes of treatment with the tested solutions. Results were then submitted to statistical analysis (two-way ANOVA). For the smear layer removal study, 35 bovine incisor roots were randomly assigned to seven groups, according to the irrigating solution, and instrumented following the step-back technique. The irrigating solution was left for 5 minutes in the canals after instrumentation, and then washed with distilled water. Samples were then split and observed under the SEM with 350x magnification. Photomicrographs were obtained from the middle third of the root canal and evaluated for the percentage of remaining smear layer. Results of the microhardness tests showed that all solutions yeld to a hardness reduction of dentine, except saline solution. Sodium hypochlorite, EDDS and Smear Clear presented similar results, with mild reduction of microhardness, while MTAD or EDTA solutions presented severe microhardness alterations. Regarding smear layer removal, EDTA solutions, Smear Clear® and BioPure MTAD® presented similar results, with clean root canal walls and no visible débris. EDDS was more effective than saline solution or sodium hypochlorite, but less effective than the other chelating solutions. It can be concluded that EDTA at pH 7.3 or 9.0 are statistically similar, as well as BioPure MTAD®. While Smear Clear® is able to remove smear layer without reducing dentine microhardness, EDDS does reduce it moderately, but without properly cleaning the root canal walls.

No tratamento endodôntico, várias fases de igual importância são necessárias para a realização de uma terapêutica bem sucedida, entre elas podemos citar a instrumentação. Apesar de todas as técnicas e instrumentos propostos para a Endodontia, o sucesso esperado ainda não foi alcançado. Tanto a instrumentação manual quanto à rotatória não resulta na limpeza das áreas polares dos canais radiculares com achatamento mésio-distal. No intuito de obter melhor resultado clínico, avaliou-se “in vitro” a remoção da camada de “smear” das paredes dos canais radiculares de 40 dentes incisivos inferiores portadores de achatamento mésio-distal submetidos à instrumentação rotatória por meio da técnica “Free Tip Preparation”, utilizando o laser de Er: YAG nos parâmetros de 140 e 250 mJ. Para tanto, a fibra óptica do aparelho foi deslocada lentamente, com velocidade de 2 mm/s, até o orifício cervical na câmara pulpar, na parede vestibular e lingual da raiz; e sua eficácia na remoção da “smear” foi comparada aos grupos onde se utilizou apenas Hipoclorito a 2,5% e Hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5% alternado com EDTA a 17%. Os dentes foram analisados por meio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, e as fotomicrografias das áreas mais representativas dos terços médio e apical foram avaliadas por três examinadores diferentes, com grau mínimo de Mestre, que observaram a quantidade da camada de “smear” presente nas amostras em relação a três padrões. Os examinadores, sem que tivessem o conhecimento prévio de qual dos grupos estavam avaliando, atribuíram escores de 1 a 4 as fotomicrografias, de acordo com a quantidade da camada de “smear” visualizada. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística não-paramétrica, comparando-se os diferentes grupos estudados (teste de Kruskal-Wallis) e os terços radiculares (teste de Wilcoxcon). Os resultados mostraram que, quanto à quantidade da “smear” encontrada nos grupos estudados, o grupo que utilizou Hipoclorito a 2,5% alternado com EDTA apresentou os canais radiculares mais limpos seguido do grupo do laser 250 mJ e posteriormente pelos grupos do laser Er: YAG a 140 mJ e do hipoclorito a 2,5%, que não apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significante entre si. Quanto aos terços, o apical apresentou maior quantidade da “smear” em comparação com o terço médio (p< 0,01). / Manual or rotary instrumentation techniques do not efficiently clean mesio-distal flattened root canals. This study evaluated, in vitro, smear layer removal of 40 mesio-distal flattened root canals after rotary instrumentation. The teeth were then divided into 4 groups: group 1: rotary instrumentation and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite used as irrigating solution; group 2: instrumented as group 1 and followed by Er: YAG laser irradiation (140mJ input/10Hz), withdrawn at 2mm/s from the apical to the cervical region touching the buccal walls the procedure was then repeated for the lingual wall); group 3: instrumented as group 1 and followed by Er: YAG laser irradiation (250mJinput/10Hz) withdrawn at 2mm/s from the apical to the cervical region touching the buccal walls the procedure was then repeated for the lingual wall) and group 4: instrumented as group 1 and alternated with 17% EDTA Teeth were split longitudinally and prepared for examination under scanning electron microscopy. Scores from 1 to 4 were given to the fotomicrographs by three independent evaluators, and these data was submitted to statistical analysis. The teeth where alternated 17% EDTA were used (group 4) showed less amount of smear layer, followed by the group irradiated with 250mJinput/10Hz (group 3), the group irradiated with 140mJ input/10Hz and the group where only sodium hypochlorite was used. The apical third presented more smear layer than the middle third (p<00.1).

Por mais de 30 anos, a utilização do meio de cultura, enriquecido com soro bovino, e de fibroblastos murinos, com a taxa de proliferação controlada por irradiação ou por ação de drogas anti-cancerígenas, vem desempenhando com sucesso o seu papel de auxiliar no desenvolvimento dos queratinócitos em cultura, para fins clínicos. Porém, atualmente há uma preocupação crescente acerca da possibilidade de transmissão de príons e virose animais, aos pacientes transplantados. Levando em conta esta preocupação, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo cultivar fibroblastos humanos em meio enriquecido com lisado de plaquetas humanas e determinar a dose de irradiação dessas células, para obtenção da camada de sustentação na cultura de células da epiderme. Para realização do objetivo proposto, padronizamos a lise das plaquetas, utilizamos este lisado para cultivar os fibroblastos humanos e verificamos a dose de irradiação suficiente para inibir sua duplicação. Queratinócitos humanos foram cultivados nestas camadas de sustentação, em meio de cultura suplementado com o lisado. Com os resultados obtidos concluímos que o lisado de plaquetas a 10% promoveu uma melhor adesão e proliferação dos fibroblastos humanos e em todas as doses testadas (60 a 300 Gy), estes tiveram as suas atividades mitóticas inativadas pela radiação ionizante, sendo que as camadas de sustentação obtidas com doses de 70 a 150 Gy foram as que proporcionaram o melhor desenvolvimento dos queratinócitos em meio contendo 2,5% de lisado de plaquetas humanas. Portanto, foi possível padronizar, tanto o cultivo dos fibroblastos humanos, quanto sua inativação para utilização como camada de sustentação na cultura de queratinócitos, de maneira a eliminar os componentes xenobióticos. / For over 30 years, the use of culture medium, enriched with bovine serum, and murines fibroblasts, with the rate of proliferation controlled by irradiation or by share anticarcinogenic drugs, has been playing successfully its role in assisting in the development of keratinocytes in culture, for clinical purposes. However, currently there is a growing concern about the possibility of transmitting prions and animals viruses to transplanted patients. Taking into account this concern, the present work aims to cultivate human fibroblasts in a medium enriched with human platelets lysate and determine the irradiation dose of these cells, for obtaining feeder layer in epidermal cell culture. For carrying out the proposed objective, platelets lysis has standardized, this lysate was used for human fibroblasts cultivation and the irradiation dose enough to inhibit its duplication was evaluated. Human keratinocytes were cultivated in these feeder layers, in culture medium enriched with the lysate. With these results we conclude that the 10% platelets lysate promoted a better adhesion and proliferation of human fibroblasts and in all dose levels tested (60 to 300 Gy), these had their mitotic activity inactivated by ionizing irradiation, being that the feeder layers obtained with doses from 70 to 150 Gy were those that provided the best development of keratinocytes in medium containing 2.5% of human platelet lysate. Therefore, it was possible to standardize both the cultivation of human fibroblasts as its inactivation for use as feeder layer in culture of keratinocytes, so as to eliminate xenobiotics components.

Por mais de 30 anos, a utilização do meio de cultura, enriquecido com soro bovino, e de fibroblastos murinos, com a taxa de proliferação controlada por irradiação ou por ação de drogas anti-cancerígenas, vem desempenhando com sucesso o seu papel de auxiliar no desenvolvimento dos queratinócitos em cultura, para fins clínicos. Porém, atualmente há uma preocupação crescente acerca da possibilidade de transmissão de príons e virose animais, aos pacientes transplantados. Levando em conta esta preocupação, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo cultivar fibroblastos humanos em meio enriquecido com lisado de plaquetas humanas e determinar a dose de irradiação dessas células, para obtenção da camada de sustentação na cultura de células da epiderme. Para realização do objetivo proposto, padronizamos a lise das plaquetas, utilizamos este lisado para cultivar os fibroblastos humanos e verificamos a dose de irradiação suficiente para inibir sua duplicação. Queratinócitos humanos foram cultivados nestas camadas de sustentação, em meio de cultura suplementado com o lisado. Com os resultados obtidos concluímos que o lisado de plaquetas a 10% promoveu uma melhor adesão e proliferação dos fibroblastos humanos e em todas as doses testadas (60 a 300 Gy), estes tiveram as suas atividades mitóticas inativadas pela radiação ionizante, sendo que as camadas de sustentação obtidas com doses de 70 a 150 Gy foram as que proporcionaram o melhor desenvolvimento dos queratinócitos em meio contendo 2,5% de lisado de plaquetas humanas. Portanto, foi possível padronizar, tanto o cultivo dos fibroblastos humanos, quanto sua inativação para utilização como camada de sustentação na cultura de queratinócitos, de maneira a eliminar os componentes xenobióticos. / For over 30 years, the use of culture medium, enriched with bovine serum, and murines fibroblasts, with the rate of proliferation controlled by irradiation or by share anticarcinogenic drugs, has been playing successfully its role in assisting in the development of keratinocytes in culture, for clinical purposes. However, currently there is a growing concern about the possibility of transmitting prions and animals viruses to transplanted patients. Taking into account this concern, the present work aims to cultivate human fibroblasts in a medium enriched with human platelets lysate and determine the irradiation dose of these cells, for obtaining feeder layer in epidermal cell culture. For carrying out the proposed objective, platelets lysis has standardized, this lysate was used for human fibroblasts cultivation and the irradiation dose enough to inhibit its duplication was evaluated. Human keratinocytes were cultivated in these feeder layers, in culture medium enriched with the lysate. With these results we conclude that the 10% platelets lysate promoted a better adhesion and proliferation of human fibroblasts and in all dose levels tested (60 to 300 Gy), these had their mitotic activity inactivated by ionizing irradiation, being that the feeder layers obtained with doses from 70 to 150 Gy were those that provided the best development of keratinocytes in medium containing 2.5% of human platelet lysate. Therefore, it was possible to standardize both the cultivation of human fibroblasts as its inactivation for use as feeder layer in culture of keratinocytes, so as to eliminate xenobiotics components.

No tratamento endodôntico, várias fases de igual importância são necessárias para a realização de uma terapêutica bem sucedida, entre elas podemos citar a instrumentação. Apesar de todas as técnicas e instrumentos propostos para a Endodontia, o sucesso esperado ainda não foi alcançado. Tanto a instrumentação manual quanto à rotatória não resulta na limpeza das áreas polares dos canais radiculares com achatamento mésio-distal. No intuito de obter melhor resultado clínico, avaliou-se “in vitro" a remoção da camada de “smear" das paredes dos canais radiculares de 40 dentes incisivos inferiores portadores de achatamento mésio-distal submetidos à instrumentação rotatória por meio da técnica “Free Tip Preparation", utilizando o laser de Er: YAG nos parâmetros de 140 e 250 mJ. Para tanto, a fibra óptica do aparelho foi deslocada lentamente, com velocidade de 2 mm/s, até o orifício cervical na câmara pulpar, na parede vestibular e lingual da raiz; e sua eficácia na remoção da “smear" foi comparada aos grupos onde se utilizou apenas Hipoclorito a 2,5% e Hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5% alternado com EDTA a 17%. Os dentes foram analisados por meio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, e as fotomicrografias das áreas mais representativas dos terços médio e apical foram avaliadas por três examinadores diferentes, com grau mínimo de Mestre, que observaram a quantidade da camada de “smear" presente nas amostras em relação a três padrões. Os examinadores, sem que tivessem o conhecimento prévio de qual dos grupos estavam avaliando, atribuíram escores de 1 a 4 as fotomicrografias, de acordo com a quantidade da camada de “smear" visualizada. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística não-paramétrica, comparando-se os diferentes grupos estudados (teste de Kruskal-Wallis) e os terços radiculares (teste de Wilcoxcon). Os resultados mostraram que, quanto à quantidade da “smear" encontrada nos grupos estudados, o grupo que utilizou Hipoclorito a 2,5% alternado com EDTA apresentou os canais radiculares mais limpos seguido do grupo do laser 250 mJ e posteriormente pelos grupos do laser Er: YAG a 140 mJ e do hipoclorito a 2,5%, que não apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significante entre si. Quanto aos terços, o apical apresentou maior quantidade da “smear" em comparação com o terço médio (p< 0,01). / Manual or rotary instrumentation techniques do not efficiently clean mesio-distal flattened root canals. This study evaluated, in vitro, smear layer removal of 40 mesio-distal flattened root canals after rotary instrumentation. The teeth were then divided into 4 groups: group 1: rotary instrumentation and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite used as irrigating solution; group 2: instrumented as group 1 and followed by Er: YAG laser irradiation (140mJ input/10Hz), withdrawn at 2mm/s from the apical to the cervical region touching the buccal walls the procedure was then repeated for the lingual wall); group 3: instrumented as group 1 and followed by Er: YAG laser irradiation (250mJinput/10Hz) withdrawn at 2mm/s from the apical to the cervical region touching the buccal walls the procedure was then repeated for the lingual wall) and group 4: instrumented as group 1 and alternated with 17% EDTA Teeth were split longitudinally and prepared for examination under scanning electron microscopy. Scores from 1 to 4 were given to the fotomicrographs by three independent evaluators, and these data was submitted to statistical analysis. The teeth where alternated 17% EDTA were used (group 4) showed less amount of smear layer, followed by the group irradiated with 250mJinput/10Hz (group 3), the group irradiated with 140mJ input/10Hz and the group where only sodium hypochlorite was used. The apical third presented more smear layer than the middle third (p<00.1).

The primary focus of my work has been to prepare new solid adsorbents for solid phase microextraction (SPME) via sputtering of silicon. The orientation of the silica substrates/fibers and the sputtering pressure induced the formation of porous and columnar structures. Sputtering was performed for different times to yield fibers with different thicknesses. Piranha treatment of the surface increased the concentration of silanol groups, which underwent condensation with vapor deposited octadecyldimethylmonomethoxy silane to incorporate octadecyl chains onto the fiber surfaces. Silanized, sputtered fibers were preconditioned for 3 h at 320 °C to remove the unreacted chains. Comparison of the extraction efficiencies of 1.0 and 2.0 µm sputtered, silanized fibers with a commercial fiber (7 µm PDMS) for a series of analyte mixtures, which included alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and amines, was demonstrated. The silanized, sputtered fiber performed better than the commercial fiber in extraction of most of the compounds. These fibers demonstrated long life as no degradation was seen even after 300 extractions. Carry-over between runs was not observed. The repeatability of the sputtered fibers was similar to commercial ones. The extraction of more than 50 compounds from a real world botanical sample using the 2.0 µm sputtered, silanized fiber was also demonstrated. In my second project, a facile method for the preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) on glass and silicon surfaces was developed. A two-tier topography (needed for an SHS) was created in 60 min by the aggregation of nanosilica during in situ urea-formaldehyde polymerization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated rough topography. Vapor deposition of a low surface energy silane imparted hydrophobicity, which was confirmed by the presence of an F 1s signal in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The prepared surfaces exhibited water contact angles (WCA) of greater than 150 °C with very low sliding angles. In my third project, a multilayer assembly of nitrilotris(methylene)triphosphonic acid, a corrosion inhibitor, and zirconium was constructed on alumina at room temperature. Attempts to prepare a layer-by-layer assembly at higher temperature (70 °C) was unsuccessful due to etching of the alumina surface. A suite of analytical techniques, XPS, AFM, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to characterize these surfaces. This thesis also contains appendices of tutorial articles I wrote on modeling in ellipsometry, and data analysis tools (classical least squares and multivariate curve resolution).

Inductive plasmas are simulated by using a one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation including Monte Carlo collision techniques (pic/mcc). To model inductive heating, a non-uniform radio-frequency (rf) electric field, perpendicular to the electron motion is included into the classical particle-in-cell scheme. The inductive plasma pic simulation is used to confirm recent experimental results that electric double layers can form in current-free plasmas. These results differ from previous experimental or simulation systems where the double layers are driven by a current or by imposed potential differences. The formation of a super-sonic ion beam, resulting from the ions accelerated through the potential drop of the double layer and predicted by the pic simulation is confirmed with nonperturbative laser-induced fluorescence measurements of ion flow. It is shown that at low pressure, where the electron mean free path is of the order of, or greater than the system length, the electron energy distribution function (eedf) is close to Maxwellian, except for its tail which is depleted at energies higher than the plasma potential. Evidence supporting that this depletion is mostly due to the high-energy electrons escaping to the walls is given. ¶ A new hybrid simulation scheme (particle ions and Boltzmann/particle electrons), accounting for non-Maxwellian eedf and self-consistently simulating low-pressure high-density plasmas at low computational cost is proposed. Results obtained with the “improved” hybrid model are in much better agreement with the full pic simulation than the classical non self-consistent hybrid model. This model is used to simulate electronegative plasmas and to provide evidence supporting the fact that propagating double layers may spontaneously form in electronegative plasmas. It is shown that critical parameters of the simulation were very much aligned with critical parameters of the experiment.

Boundary-layer flows near leading edges of generally curved obstacles have been studied for a long time. Apart from having many practical applications, the theory and approaches prevailing in this area stimulate development of a variety of computational tools and form a ground for testing them. The specific aim of this work is to study two-dimensional laminar boundary layer flows near the leading edges of airfoils and other elongated bodies, and to explore geometries for which boundary layer separation can be avoided. This class of problems is relevant to optimal design of wings, aircraft and projectile noses, laminar flow control methods and adaptive wing technology. One of the findings of this work suggests that local modifications to parabolic wing noses can yield up to 11% increase in the unseparated angle of attack. Another result obtained here is the set of shortest possible generalised elliptic noses of long symmetric bodies which allow unseparated flow. Methods adopted in this work are based on the combined use of numerically solved Prandtl equations written in Gortler variables, and inviscid solutions obtained semi-analytically by the conformal mapping method. The resulting technique being reliable, fast and computationally inexpensive, can complement or test the results obtained using a comprehensive CFD approach. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Mathematical Sciences, 2002.

Transparent electrodes made from metal oxides suffer from poor flexibility and durability. Highly transparent and electrically conductive thin films based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were assembled as a potential indium tin oxide (ITO) replacement using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The ultimate objective of this dissertation work is to produce CNT-based assemblies with sheet resistance below 100 Omega/sq and visible light transmission greater than 85 percent. The alternate deposition of positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) [PDDA] and CNTs stabilized with negatively charged deoxycholate (DOC) exhibit linear film growth and thin film properties can be precisely tuned. Ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance, and UV-vis were used to measure the growth of these films as a function of PDDA-CNT bilayers deposited, while TEM, SEM, and AFM were used to visualize the nanostructure of these films. Following a literature review describing potential ITO substitutes and LbL technology, the influence of CNT type on optoelectronic performance of LbL assemblies is described. Three different types of nanotubes were investigated: (1) multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), (2) few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWNT), and (3) purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). SWNTs produced the most transparent (>85 percent visible light transmittance) and electrically conductive (148 S/cm, 1.62 kOmega/sq) 20-bilayer films with a 41.6 nm thickness, while MWNT-based films are much thicker and more opaque. A 20-bilayer PDDA/(MWNT DOC) film is approximately 103 nm thick, with a conductivity of 36 S/cm and a transmittance of 30 percent. In an effort to improve both transparency and electrical conductivity, heat and acid treatments were studied. Heating films to 300 degree C reduced sheet resistance to 701 Omega/sq (618 S/cm conductivity, 38.4 nm thickness), with no change in transparency, owing to the removal of insulating component in the film. Despite improving conductivity, heating is not compatible with most plastic substrates, so acid doping was investigated as an alternate means to enhance properties. Exposing SWNT-based assemblies to HNO3 vapor reduced sheet resistance of a 10 BL film to 227 Omega/sq. Replacing SWNTs with double walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) provided further reduction in sheet resistance due to the greater metallic of DWNT. A 5 BL DWNT film exhibited the lowest 104 Omega/sq sheet resistance (4200 S/cm conductivity, 22.9 nm thickness) with 84 percent transmittance after nitric acid treatment. DWNT-based assemblies maintained their low sheet resistance after repeated bending and also showed electrochemical stability relative to ITO. This work demonstrates the excellent optoelectronic performance, mechanical flexibility, and electrochemical stability of CNT-based assemblies, which are potentially useful as flexible transparent electrodes for a variety of flexible electronics.