AVS 49th International Symposium
    Nanotubes: Science and Applications Topical Conference Tuesday Sessions
       Session NT-TuA

Paper NT-TuA5
Self-assembly of Carbon Nanotubes

Tuesday, November 5, 2002, 3:20 pm, Room C-209

Session: Nanotubes: Mechanical Properties, NEMS
Presenter: S.J. Oh, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Authors: S.J. Oh, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
H. Shimoda, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
H.Z. Geng, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
R.J. Walker, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
L.E. McNeil, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
O. Zhou, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Self-assembly is an efficient process employed by nature to fabricate higher-level architectures of micro- and nano- objects with controlled functionality. Here we report that pre-formed individual CNTs can self assemble into macroscopically ordered films and membranes. Electron microscopy and polarized Raman spectroscopy measurements indicate orientational ordering of the CNTs in these self-assembled structures, which exhibit optical and electrical anisotropy. By controlling the functionality of the substrates, patterned CNT structures were obtained. Self-assembly of the CNTs is explained in terms of heterogeneous nucleation from a locally super-saturated suspension.