Structures, systems and methods for joining articles and materials and uses therefor

• US 20060165952A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dubrow, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/97
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 3/008 Aspects related to assembling from individually processed components, not covered by groups B81C3/001 - B81C3/002
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/31 the adhesive effect being based on a Gecko structure
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2400/123 in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/00 Adhesives in the form of films or foils
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/373 Cooling facilitated by selection of materials for the device or materials for thermal expansion adaptation, e.g. carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/09701 Low temperature co-fired ceramic [LTCC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/762 Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/766 Bent wire, i.e. having nonliner longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/902 Specified use of nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/931 Medical device coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/962 for carrying or transporting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/963 Miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23993 Composition of pile or adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 : including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 : Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2922 : Nonlinear [e.g., crimped, coiled, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2925 : Helical or coiled

Abstract

This invention provides novel nanofibers and nanofiber structures which posses adherent properties, as well as the use of such nanofibers and nanofiber comprising structures in the coupling and/or joining together of articles or material.

Claims

1. A method of joining two or more articles, the method comprising:

i) depositing a first plurality of inorganic nanofibers on a first surface of a first article, wherein the plurality of nanofibers have a curved or curled configuration;

ii) contacting the first surface of the first article with a second surface of a second article, whereby each nanofiber contacts the second surface of the second article at a plurality of contact points wherein the contacting creates van der Waals forces between each of said nanofibers and the second surface of the second article, such that the van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the second surface of the second article are sufficient to adhere the first and second articles together.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said depositing comprises growing the nanofibers on the first surface of the first article.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nanofibers are grown by a VLS growth process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers have a length of at least about 50 microns.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise silicon or silicon oxide nanofibers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers are selected from a Group IV, Group II-VI, or Group III-V semiconductor material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise TiO, ZnO, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InN, InP, InAs, InSb, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, AlS, AlP, AlSb, SiO1, SiO2, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, or silicon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers are grown on a second article, and then transferred and deposited on the first surface of the first article.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the density of contact points between the nanofibers and the second surface of the second article comprises contact of from at least about 1 nanofibaer per micron² to 2000 or more nanofibers per micron².

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the density of contact points between the nanofibers and the second surface of the second article comprises contact of from at least about 5 nanofibers per micron² to 1000 or more nanofibers per micron².

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the density of contact points between the nanofibers and the second surface of the second article comprises contact of from at least about 10 nanofibers per micron² to 500 or more nanofibers per micron².

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the density of contact points between the nanofibers and the second surface of the second article comprises contact of from at least about 50 nanofibers per micron² to 250 or more nanofibers per micron².

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the density of contact points between the nanofibers and the second surface of the second article comprises contact of from at least about 75 nanofibers per micron² to 150 or more nanofibers per micron².

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising depositing a second plurality of inorganic nanofibers on the first surface of the first article, wherein the second plurality of nanofibers have a straight configuration.

15. An adherent device comprising a substrate having at least a first surface and a first plurality of inorganic nanofibers deposited on the first surface, wherein the plurality of nanofibers have a curved or curled configuration for contacting with a second surface at two or more contact points on each of said nanofibers.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the nanofibers comprise hollow nanotubular structures.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein substantially all nanofibers comprise one or more associated moiety.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more moiety comprises a functional moiety.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the functional moiety increases a van der Waals attraction between the nanofibers and the second surface, to be greater than a van der Waals attraction between the nanofibers and such second surface in the absence of the moiety.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the functional moiety increases friction forces between the nanofibers and the second surface to be greater than a friction force between the nanofibers and such surface in the absence of the moiety.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the nanofibers comprise silicon or silicon oxide nanofibers.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the nanofibers are selected from a Group IV, Group II-VI, or Group III-V semiconductor material.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the nanofibers comprise TiO, ZnO, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InN, InP, InAs, InSb, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, AlS, AlP, AlSb, SiO1, SiO2, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, or silicon.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein the device comprises a medical device.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the medical device comprises a metal plate having the nanofibers deposited thereon for attachment to bone or teeth.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the first surface further comprises a second plurality of inorganic nanofibers deposited on the first surface, wherein the second plurality of nanofibers have a straight configuration.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein the nanofibers comprise silicon nanowires.