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

• US 7,056,409 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shoei Chemical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dubrow, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): MAYES, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/661,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 156/276, 156/306.3, 977/DIG.1, 428/90, 428/91, 428/92, 428/95
• US Class Current: 156/276
• 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 materials.

Claims

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

i) providing a first article having at least a first surface;

ii) providing at least a second article having at least a first surface; and

,

iii) providing a layer of silicon nanofibers disposed between the first surface of the first article and the first surface of the at least second article, whereby the nanofibers contact the first surface of the first article at a plurality of contact points and the first surface of the at least second article at a plurality of contact points, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nanofibers contacts the first surface of the first and second articles on a side surface of said nanofibers wherein the contacting creates van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the first surface of the first and second articles, such that the van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the first surface of the first article and the first surface of the at least second article are sufficient to adhere the articles together.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forces between the nanofibers and the first surface of the second article and between the nanofibers and the first surface of the first article, further comprise friction forces.

3. A method of adhering two or more surfaces, the method comprising:

i.) providing a first surface comprising a plurality of silicon nanofibers attached thereto;

ii.) providing at least a second surface; and

,

iii.) contacting the first surface and the at least second surface, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nanofibers contacts the second surface on a side surface of said nanofibers wherein the contacting creates van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the second surface which van der Waals forces are sufficient to adhere the surfaces together.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the nanofibers are grown on the first surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the nanofibers are grown by a VLS growth process.

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

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

i) providing a first article having at least a first surface, wherein the first surface comprises a plurality of silicon nanofibers attached thereto,

ii) providing at least a second article having at least a first surface which does not comprise nanofibers;

iii) mating the first surface of the second article with the plurality of nanofibers on the first surface of the first article, whereby the nanofibers contact the first surface of the second article at a plurality of contact points, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nanofibers contacts the second surface on a side surface of said nanofibers wherein the contacting creates van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the second surface, such that the van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the first surface of the second article are sufficient to adhere the first article to the second article.

8. An adhesive device, the device comprising:

i) a first article having at least a first surface;

ii) at least a second article having at least a first surface; and

,

iii) a layer of silicon nanofibers disposed between the first surface of the first article and the first surface of the at least second article, whereby the nanofibers contact the first surface of the first article at a plurality of contact points and the first surface of the at least second article at a plurality of contact points, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of contact points are on a side surface of said nanofibers wherein the contacting creates van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the first surface of the first and second articles, such that the van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the first surface of the first article and the first surface of the at least second article are sufficient to adhere the articles together.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein contacting the first surface of the first article and the first surface of the at least second article additionally creates friction forces between the surfaces.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the van der Waals forces comprises from at least about 0.1 newton per centimeter² to at least about 100 newtons per centimeter^2.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the van der Waals forces comprises from at least about 0.5 newton per centimeter² to at least about 50 newtons per centimeter^2.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the van der Waals forces comprises from at least about 1 newton per centimeter² to at least about 25 newtons per centimeter^2.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the van der Waals forces comprises from at least about 2 newtons per centimeter² to at least about 10 newtons per centimeter^2.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the nanofibers comprise hollow nanotubular structures.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein substantially all nanofibers comprise one or more associated moiety.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the one or more moiety comprises a functional moiety.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the functional moiety increases a van der Waals attraction between the nanofiber and one or more of the first surface of the first article or the first surface of the at least second article, to be greater than a van der Waals attraction between the nanofiber and such surfaces in the absence of the moiety.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the functional moiety increases friction forces between the nanofiber and one or more of the first surface of the first article or the first surface of the at least second article to be greater than a friction force between the nanofiber and such surfaces in the absence of the moiety.

19. The device of claim 8, wherein substantially each member of the plurality of nanofibers passes more than once through a selected plane above the first surface of the first and second articles.

20. The device of claim 8, wherein the nanofibers are grown on one or both of the first surface of the first article and/or the first surface of the second article.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the nanofibers are grown by a VLS process.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the nanofibers have a length of at least about 50 microns.