Aligned single-walled carbon nanotube patterns with nanoscale width, micron-scale length and controllable pitch

We have successfully aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in patterns with nanoscale width, micron-scale length and controllable pitch on SiO2/Si substrates using a poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS) microchannel mold. The microchanneled mold was patterned with a funnel-shaped channel to minimize nanotube jamming during capillary-driven inflow. Two (i.e. preand post-capillary) gas blows were employed to improve nanotube alignment. The fluidically pre-aligned carbon nanotubes were ‘gas-spun’ into a long 20 nm wide pattern, significantly narrower than the fluidic pre-alignment channel. These narrow and long aligned SWNT patterns were successfully transferred to a pair of gold electrodes spaced 15 μm apart. The performance of the carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNTFET) fabricated by this technique was evaluated. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)