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Controlling the position and morphology of nanotubes within a polymer thin film

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Emer Lahiff ,
Andrew I. Minett ,
Seamus Curran ,
Chang Y. Ryu ,
Werner J. Blau  and
Pulickel M. Ajayan
Emer Lahiff
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Andrew I. Minett
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Seamus Curran
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, 155 Gardiner Hall, Las Cruces, NM 88003–0001
Chang Y. Ryu
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
Werner J. Blau
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Pulickel M. Ajayan
Affiliation:
Materials and Engineering Department, Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
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Abstract

We introduce a new method of producing polymer/nanotube composites where the morphology of nanotubes within the composite can be controlled. The thickness of the composite thin film can also be altered as required. Carbon nanotubes are grown from organo-metallic micro-patterns. The morphology of the tubes is determined by the conditions under which the tubes are grown and also, the type of catalyst used. These periodic nanotube arrays are then incorporated into a polymer matrix by spin-coating a curable polymer film on the as-grown tubes. The density and position of conduction channels through the thin film composite can be easily pre-determined by controlling the morphology of the embedded nanotubes. This technique of producing freestanding nanotube/polymer composite films represents a more efficient method of combining these materials for potential flexible electronic applications in an inexpensive and scalable manner.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 782: Symposium A – Micro- and Nanosystems , 2003 , A5.11
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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References

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