Carbon nanotube structures made using catalyst islands
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a) a substrate with a top surface;
b) a catalyst island disposed on the top surface of the substrate;
c) a carbon nanotube extending from the catalyst island.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes several nanotube structures which can be made using catalyst islands disposed on a substrate (e.g. silicon, alumina, or quartz) or on the free end of an atomic force microscope cantilever. The catalyst islands are capable of catalyzing the growth of carbon nanotubes from carbon containing gases (e.g. methane). The present invention includes an island of catalyst material (such as Fe2O3) disposed on the substrate with a carbon nanotube extending from the island. Also included in the present invention is a pair of islands with a nanotube extending between the islands, electrically connecting them. Conductive metal lines connected to the islands (which may be a few microns on a side) allows for external circuitry to connect to the nanotube. Such a structure can be used in many different electronic and microelectromechanical devices. For example, a nanotube connected between two islands can function as a resonator if the substrate beneath the nanotube is etched away. Also, the present invention includes a catalyst particle disposed on the free end of an AFM cantilever and having a nanotube extending from the particle. The nanotube can be used as the scanning tip of the AFM as is know in the art.
394 Citations
45 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a) a substrate with a top surface;
b) a catalyst island disposed on the top surface of the substrate;
c) a carbon nanotube extending from the catalyst island. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus comprising:
-
a) a substrate with a top surface;
b) two catalyst islands disposed on the top surface of the substrate;
c) a carbon nanotube extending between the catalyst islands such that the nanotube provides an electrical connection between the catalyst islands. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An apparatus comprising:
-
a) a substrate with a top surface;
b) a catalyst island disposed on the top surface of the substrate;
c) a metal pad disposed on the top surface of the substrate;
d) a carbon nanotube extending between the catalyst island and the metal pad such that the nanotube provides an electrical connection between the catalyst island and metal pad. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. An apparatus comprising:
-
a) a base;
b) a cantilever extending from the base, the cantilever having a free end opposite the base;
c) a catalyst particle disposed on the free end of the cantilever, wherein the catalyst particle is capable of catalyzing the growth of carbon nanotubes;
d) a carbon nanotube extending from the catalyst particle. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A method for producing an apparatus with a tip comprising a carbon nanotube, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) providing a cantilever suitable for use in atomic force microscopy;
b) disposing a catalyst particle on a free end of the cantilever, wherein the catalyst particle is capable of growing carbon nanotubes when exposed to a carbon-containing gas at elevated temperature;
c) contacting a carbon-containing gas to the catalyst particle at elevated temperature. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
i) contacting the free end to a particle of Fe(NO3)3 disposed on an electrically conductive substrate; and
ii) applying an electric field between the free end and the substrate.
-
-
40. The method of claim 38 wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:
-
i) contacting the free end to a particle of Fe(SO4)2 disposed on an electrically conductive substrate; and
ii) applying an electric field between the free end and the substrate.
-
-
41. The method of claim 38 wherein the apparatus produced is an atomic force microscopy apparatus.
-
42. A method for producing individually distinct carbon nanotubes, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) providing a substrate with a top surface;
b) forming an island of catalyst material on the top surface;
c) heating the substrate and catalyst island; and
d) contacting the catalyst island with a carbon-containing gas for a period of time sufficient to form the nanotubes on the catalyst island. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
-
Specification