Directional Orientation of Carbon Nanotubes on Surfaces Using a Gas Flow Cell

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are aligned with controlled orientation on surfaces from a droplet of nanotube suspension under gas flow. The alignment of SWNTs on surfaces is dictated by the direction of gas flow. Orthogonally aligned arrays of SWNTs have also been fabricated in a two-step process. Studies of fluid motion within droplets in the flow cell indicate that alignment is likely due to the circulation of SWNTs in the suspension droplet. The gas flow alignment method offers a facile system for generating oriented nanotubes on surfaces, and this approach may find use in SWNT nanodevice fabrication.