Project Abstract:

With the achievement of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesized in macroscopic quantities, it has become possible to explore its physical and chemical characteristics and further find applications. Due to the high aspect ratio and nano-scale tips, CNTs own the ability to emit a cold electron at relatively low voltages. Depending on the method of production, CNTs may exhibit metallic, semiconducting or insulating behavior. These interesting properties allow CNTs having great potential for applications to electron-field-emitting flat-panel displays, single-molecular transistor, and molecular computing elements. To realize the above applications of practical significance, however, it is highly crucial to synthesize or pattern aligned (both horizontally and perpendicularly) CNTs. In spite of receiving ever-increasing attention in the field of aligned and/or micropatterned CNTs, there has been limited research done thus far to create regular CNTS arrays, especially horizontally aligned CNTs, efficiently and inexpensively in a mild environment. Contact printing is an efficient method for pattern transfer and has been successfully developed in micro-patterning. The procedure is remarkably simple and convenient: once the stamp is available, multiple copies of the patterns can be produced using straightforward techniques. In this project, the conception of microcontact printing was adopted and modified to use for CNTs alignment.