ANISOTROPIC NANOTUBE FABRIC LAYERS AND FILMS AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME
First Claim
1. A method of forming an anisotropic nanotube fabric layer over a substrate element, which comprises:
- forming a layer of a nanotube adhesion averter material over said substrate element;
depositing a photoresist mask over said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material such that at least one region of said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material is covered by said photoresist mask and at least one region of said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material is not covered by said photoresist mask;
etching away the at least one region of said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material not covered by said photoresist mask to form at least one gap within said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material;
backfilling said at least one gap within said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material with a nanotube adhesion promoter material to foam at least one nanotube adhesion structure;
stripping away said photoresist mask to leave a patterned application surface comprising the remaining nanotube adhesion averter material and the at least one nanotube adhesion structure;
depositing a layer of nanotube elements over said patterned application surface; and
washing said layer of nanotube elements such that substantially all nanotube elements not in physical contact with said at least one nanotube adhesion structure are removed.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for forming anisotropic nanotube fabrics are disclosed. In one aspect, a nanotube application solution is rendered into a nematic state prior to its application over a substrate. In another aspect, a pump and narrow nozzle assembly are employed to realize a flow induced alignment of a plurality of individual nanotube elements as they are deposited onto a substrate element. In another aspect, nanotube adhesion promoter materials are used to form a patterned nanotube application layer, providing narrow channels over which nanotube elements will self align during an application process. Specific dip coating processes which are well suited for aiding in the creation of anisotropic nanotube fabrics are also disclosed.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of forming an anisotropic nanotube fabric layer over a substrate element, which comprises:
-
forming a layer of a nanotube adhesion averter material over said substrate element; depositing a photoresist mask over said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material such that at least one region of said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material is covered by said photoresist mask and at least one region of said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material is not covered by said photoresist mask; etching away the at least one region of said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material not covered by said photoresist mask to form at least one gap within said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material; backfilling said at least one gap within said layer of nanotube adhesion averter material with a nanotube adhesion promoter material to foam at least one nanotube adhesion structure; stripping away said photoresist mask to leave a patterned application surface comprising the remaining nanotube adhesion averter material and the at least one nanotube adhesion structure; depositing a layer of nanotube elements over said patterned application surface; and washing said layer of nanotube elements such that substantially all nanotube elements not in physical contact with said at least one nanotube adhesion structure are removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification