US20100320439A1 - Carbon nanotube structure and method of vertically aligning carbon nanotubes - Google Patents
Carbon nanotube structure and method of vertically aligning carbon nanotubes Download PDFInfo
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- US20100320439A1 US20100320439A1 US12/081,024 US8102408A US2010320439A1 US 20100320439 A1 US20100320439 A1 US 20100320439A1 US 8102408 A US8102408 A US 8102408A US 2010320439 A1 US2010320439 A1 US 2010320439A1
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
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- B82B1/00—Nanostructures formed by manipulation of individual atoms or molecules, or limited collections of atoms or molecules as discrete units
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J1/00—Details of electrodes, of magnetic control means, of screens, or of the mounting or spacing thereof, common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J1/02—Main electrodes
- H01J1/30—Cold cathodes, e.g. field-emissive cathode
- H01J1/304—Field-emissive cathodes
- H01J1/3048—Distributed particle emitters
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
- B82B—NANOSTRUCTURES FORMED BY MANIPULATION OF INDIVIDUAL ATOMS, MOLECULES, OR LIMITED COLLECTIONS OF ATOMS OR MOLECULES AS DISCRETE UNITS; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT THEREOF
- B82B3/00—Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures by manipulation of individual atoms or molecules, or limited collections of atoms or molecules as discrete units
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
- B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- B82Y10/00—Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
- B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- B82Y30/00—Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
- B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- B82Y40/00—Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J2201/00—Electrodes common to discharge tubes
- H01J2201/30—Cold cathodes
- H01J2201/304—Field emission cathodes
- H01J2201/30446—Field emission cathodes characterised by the emitter material
- H01J2201/30453—Carbon types
- H01J2201/30469—Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- H10K85/00—Organic materials used in the body or electrodes of devices covered by this subclass
- H10K85/20—Carbon compounds, e.g. carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
- H10K85/221—Carbon nanotubes
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
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- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S977/00—Nanotechnology
- Y10S977/70—Nanostructure
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S977/00—Nanotechnology
- Y10S977/70—Nanostructure
- Y10S977/734—Fullerenes, i.e. graphene-based structures, such as nanohorns, nanococoons, nanoscrolls or fullerene-like structures, e.g. WS2 or MoS2 chalcogenide nanotubes, planar C3N4, etc.
- Y10S977/742—Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S977/00—Nanotechnology
- Y10S977/70—Nanostructure
- Y10S977/788—Of specified organic or carbon-based composition
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S977/00—Nanotechnology
- Y10S977/84—Manufacture, treatment, or detection of nanostructure
- Y10S977/842—Manufacture, treatment, or detection of nanostructure for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure and a method of manufacturing CNTs, and more particularly, to a CNT structure having CNTs vertically aligned on a substrate and a method of vertically aligning the CNTs.
- CNT Carbon NanoTube
- CNTs have been used for a variety of devices such as Field Emission Devices (FEDs), back-lights for Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), nanoelectronic devices, actuators and batteries.
- FEDs Field Emission Devices
- LCDs Liquid Crystal Displays
- nanoelectronic devices actuators and batteries.
- FEDs are devices that emit light by emitting electrons from an electron emitting source formed on a cathode and by allowing the electrons to collide with and excite a phosphor layer coated on an anode.
- CNTs having excellent electron emitting characteristics have been used as electron emitting sources of FEDs.
- the CNTs used for the electron emitting source should have a low driving voltage and a high emission current.
- the CNTs need to be vertically aligned on the cathode.
- Methods of aligning CNTs can be divided into a direct growth-aligning method and an after-growth-aligning method.
- the direct growth-aligning method can realize a high density nano structure where CNTs are aligned very well by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), but has a disadvantage in needing high temperature processing, so that the direct-growth aligning method has great limitations in applications to electronic devices that use the CNTs.
- CVD Chemical Vapor Deposition
- the after-growth-aligning method includes a method of stacking CNTs through chemical modification of a substrate surface and a method of aligning CNTs using an electric field or a magnetic field.
- a method has been studied to characterize the surface of a substrate using a variety of lithography processes and selectively arrange CNTs thereon.
- the after-growth-aligning method has difficulty in vertically aligning the CNTs on the substrate.
- these methods of aligning the CNTs have lots of problems due to the high aspect ratios of the CNTs.
- the present invention provides a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure having CNTs vertically aligned on a substrate and a method of vertically aligning the CNTs.
- CNT Carbon NanoTube
- a CNT structure including: a substrate; a CNT support layer stacked on the substrate and having a plurality of pores arranged therein; and a plurality of CNTs, one end of each of the CNTs being attached to portions of the substrate exposed through the plurality of pores and lateral sides of each of the CNTs being supported by the CNT support layer.
- a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) including a functional group having a chemical affinity for the plurality of CNTs is preferably arranged on the surface of the substrate, and one end of each of the CNTs is preferably attached to the SAM through the plurality of pores.
- SAM Self-Assembled Monolayer
- the SAM preferably includes an organic material containing phosphorous.
- the organic material containing phosphorous preferably includes 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid.
- the CNT support layer preferably includes a colloid monolayer including a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles and the plurality of pores are arranged between the colloid particles.
- the colloid particles preferably include either silica or polystyrene.
- the substrate preferably includes a conductive material.
- the conductive material preferably includes Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).
- a method of vertically aligning Carbon NanoTubes including: forming a first conductive substrate; stacking a CNT support layer having a plurality of pores on the first conductive substrate; and attaching one end of the each of the CNTs to portions of the first conductive substrate exposed through plurality of pores.
- the method preferably further includes forming a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) including a functional group having a chemical affinity for the plurality of CNTs on the surface of the first conductive substrate after its formation.
- SAM Self-Assembled Monolayer
- the SAM is preferably formed of an organic material containing phosphorous.
- the organic material containing phosphorous preferably includes 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid.
- Stacking of the CNT support layer preferably includes forming a colloid monolayer including a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles on the SAM, and forming the plurality of pores between the colloid particles.
- the colloid particles are preferably formed of either silica or polystyrene.
- Attaching one end of each of the CNTs preferably includes: arranging a second to conductive substrate spaced a predetermined distance from a surface of the first conductive substrate on which the colloid monolayer has been formed; injecting a dispersion solution to disperse the CNTs between the first and second conductive substrates; attaching one end of each of the CNTs contained in the dispersion solution to the SAM using the plurality of pores formed between the colloid particles by applying an electric field between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate; and removing the dispersion solution with a solvent.
- An anode voltage and a cathode voltage are preferably respectively supplied to the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate to produce the electric field.
- FIG. 1 is a view of a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIGS. 2A through 2D are views of a method of vertically aligning CNTs so as to manufacture the CNT structure of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photo of a colloid monolayer formed on a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM);
- FIG. 4 is an SEM photo of vertically aligned CNTs arranged between colloid particles.
- FIG. 5 is a view of the electric field emission characteristics of an Field Emission Device (FED) having a CNT structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FED Field Emission Device
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- a predetermined material layer is formed on the surface of a substrate 110 so that one end of each of the CNTs 140 can be attached well thereon.
- the substrate 110 can be formed of a conductive material, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).
- ITO Indium Tin Oxide
- the material layer can be a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) 120 including a function group having affinity for the CNTs 140 .
- SAM 120 can be formed of an organic material containing phosphorous, such as 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid.
- a CNT support layer is formed on the SAM 120 .
- the CNT support layer includes a to plurality of pores exposing the SAM 120 .
- the CNT support layer can be a colloid monolayer 130 formed on the SAM 120 .
- the colloid monolayer 130 includes a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles 131 .
- the pores exposing the SAM 120 are formed between the colloid particles 131 .
- the colloid particles 131 can be formed of silica or polystyrene.
- each of the CNTs 140 are attached on the portions of the SAM 120 exposed through the pores formed between the colloid particles 131 . Since the lateral sides of the CNTs 140 having large aspect ratios are supported by the colloid particles 131 , the CNTs 140 can be vertically aligned on the substrate 110 having the SAM 120 thereon with the help of the pores formed between the colloid particles 131 .
- the SAM 120 including a functional group having affinity for the CNTs 140 is formed on the surface of the substrate 110 in the present embodiment, the SAM cannot be formed but one end of each of the CNTs 140 can be directly attached to the portions of the substrates 110 exposed through the pores between the colloid particles.
- the colloid monolayer 130 including a plurality of colloid particles 131 is used for a CNT support layer in the present invention, a predetermined material layer having a plurality of pores therein can be used.
- FIGS. 2A through 2D are views of the method of vertically aligning the CNTs so as to manufacture the CNT structure.
- a first conductive substrate 110 is provided.
- the first conductive substrate 110 can be the substrate described in the above embodiment.
- the first to conductive substrate 110 can be formed of a transparent conductive material, such as ITO.
- a SAM 120 including a function group having affinity for the CNTs is formed on the first conductive substrate 110 .
- the SAM 120 can be formed of an organic material containing phosphorous, such as 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid.
- the SAM 120 can be formed by making 5 mM of 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid and immersing the first conductive substrate 110 in this solution for a predetermined period of time.
- a CNT support layer having a plurality of pores therein is formed on the SAM 120 .
- the CNT support layer can be a colloid monolayer 130 formed on the SAM 120 .
- the colloid monolayer 130 includes a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles 131 .
- the pores exposing the SAM 120 are formed between the colloid particles 131 .
- the colloid particles 131 can be formed of silica or polystyrene.
- silica particles having uniform nano sizes of about 570 nm are dispersed in a propanol solution and then this solution is spin-coated on the first conductive substrate 110 on which the SAM 120 is formed, so that the colloid monolayer 130 including a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles 131 can be formed on the SAM 120 .
- a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photo in FIG. 3 shows the colloid monolayer 130 formed on the SAM 120 .
- a second conductive substrate 150 is arranged to be spaced a predetermined distance from the first conductive substrate 110 on which the colloid monolayer 130 is formed.
- the second conductive substrate 150 can be formed of a transparent conductive material, such as ITO.
- a dispersion solution 160 dispersing the CNTs ( 140 in FIG. 2 ) therein is injected between the first conductive substrate 110 and the second conductive substrate 150 .
- the dispersion solution 160 can be injected between the first conductive substrate 110 and the second conductive substrate 150 by capillary action.
- FIG. 4 is an SEM photo showing CNTs 140 which are vertically aligned between colloid particles 131 .
- one end of each of the CNTs 140 having large aspect ratios are attached to the substrate 110 through the pores between the colloid particles 131 and the lateral sides of the CNTs 140 are supported by the colloid particles 131 , so that the CNTs 140 can be vertically aligned at predetermined positions on the substrate 110 .
- the CNT structure manufactured by the method of vertically aligning the CNTs according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a variety of electronic devices, and in particular, usefully applied to an electron emitting source of an FED.
- FIG. 5 illustrates results obtained by measuring the electric field emission characteristics of an FED that uses the CNT structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5 , it is revealed that a current density required for the FED can be obtained by properly changing the intensity of an electric field applied between a cathode and an anode.
- the present invention has the following effects.
- a colloid monolayer including a plurality of colloid parties is formed on the substrate, so that one end of each of the CNTs 140 having large aspect ratios are attached to the substrate 110 through the pores formed between the colloid particles 131 and the lateral sides of the CNTs 140 are supported by the colloid particles 131 . Therefore, the CNTs 140 can be vertically aligned at predetermined positions on the substrate 110 .
- the method of vertically aligning the CNTs can vertically align the CNTs using a simple process that can be applied to the manufacture of a large-sized FED. Also, since the method does not require a high temperature process, the present invention has a small limitation for temperature.
- the CNTs can be vertically aligned on the substrate using a small amount of CNTs.
- an amount of about 0.2 ⁇ g of CNTs is required for vertically aligning the CNTs on an area 1 cm 2 of the substrate. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a 40-inch FED using only 1 mg of CNTs.
Abstract
A Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure includes a substrate, a CNT support layer, and a plurality of CNTs. The CNT support layer is stacked on the substrate and has pores therein. One end of each of the CNTs is attached to portions of the substrate exposed through the pores and each of the CNTs has its lateral sides supported by the CNT support layer. A method of vertically aligning CNTs includes: forming a first conductive substrate; stacking a CNT support layer having pores on the first conductive substrate; and attaching one end of the each of the CNTs to portions of the first conductive substrate exposed through the pores.
Description
- This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application for CARBON NANOTUBES STRUCTURE AND VERTICAL ALIGNMENT METHOD OF THE CARBON NANOTUBES earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on the 11 Oct. 2005 and there duly assigned Serial No. 10-2005-0095497.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure and a method of manufacturing CNTs, and more particularly, to a CNT structure having CNTs vertically aligned on a substrate and a method of vertically aligning the CNTs.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Since the unique structural and electrical characteristics of CNTs were known, CNTs have been used for a variety of devices such as Field Emission Devices (FEDs), back-lights for Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), nanoelectronic devices, actuators and batteries.
- FEDs are devices that emit light by emitting electrons from an electron emitting source formed on a cathode and by allowing the electrons to collide with and excite a phosphor layer coated on an anode. Recently, CNTs having excellent electron emitting characteristics have been used as electron emitting sources of FEDs. To manufacture an improved FED, the CNTs used for the electron emitting source should have a low driving voltage and a high emission current. For that purpose, the CNTs need to be vertically aligned on the cathode.
- Methods of aligning CNTs can be divided into a direct growth-aligning method and an after-growth-aligning method. The direct growth-aligning method can realize a high density nano structure where CNTs are aligned very well by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), but has a disadvantage in needing high temperature processing, so that the direct-growth aligning method has great limitations in applications to electronic devices that use the CNTs.
- The after-growth-aligning method includes a method of stacking CNTs through chemical modification of a substrate surface and a method of aligning CNTs using an electric field or a magnetic field. A method has been studied to characterize the surface of a substrate using a variety of lithography processes and selectively arrange CNTs thereon. However, the after-growth-aligning method has difficulty in vertically aligning the CNTs on the substrate. Recently, there has been research with regard to vertically aligning the CNTs on the substrate using chemical bonding through chemical modification of the substrate and the CNTs. However, it has been known that these methods of aligning the CNTs have lots of problems due to the high aspect ratios of the CNTs.
- The present invention provides a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure having CNTs vertically aligned on a substrate and a method of vertically aligning the CNTs.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, a CNT structure is provided including: a substrate; a CNT support layer stacked on the substrate and having a plurality of pores arranged therein; and a plurality of CNTs, one end of each of the CNTs being attached to portions of the substrate exposed through the plurality of pores and lateral sides of each of the CNTs being supported by the CNT support layer.
- A Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) including a functional group having a chemical affinity for the plurality of CNTs is preferably arranged on the surface of the substrate, and one end of each of the CNTs is preferably attached to the SAM through the plurality of pores.
- The SAM preferably includes an organic material containing phosphorous. The organic material containing phosphorous preferably includes 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid.
- The CNT support layer preferably includes a colloid monolayer including a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles and the plurality of pores are arranged between the colloid particles. The colloid particles preferably include either silica or polystyrene.
- The substrate preferably includes a conductive material. The conductive material preferably includes Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).
- According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of vertically aligning Carbon NanoTubes (CNTs) is provided, the method including: forming a first conductive substrate; stacking a CNT support layer having a plurality of pores on the first conductive substrate; and attaching one end of the each of the CNTs to portions of the first conductive substrate exposed through plurality of pores.
- The method preferably further includes forming a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) including a functional group having a chemical affinity for the plurality of CNTs on the surface of the first conductive substrate after its formation. The SAM is preferably formed of an organic material containing phosphorous. The organic material containing phosphorous preferably includes 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid.
- Stacking of the CNT support layer preferably includes forming a colloid monolayer including a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles on the SAM, and forming the plurality of pores between the colloid particles. The colloid particles are preferably formed of either silica or polystyrene.
- Attaching one end of each of the CNTs preferably includes: arranging a second to conductive substrate spaced a predetermined distance from a surface of the first conductive substrate on which the colloid monolayer has been formed; injecting a dispersion solution to disperse the CNTs between the first and second conductive substrates; attaching one end of each of the CNTs contained in the dispersion solution to the SAM using the plurality of pores formed between the colloid particles by applying an electric field between the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate; and removing the dispersion solution with a solvent.
- An anode voltage and a cathode voltage are preferably respectively supplied to the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate to produce the electric field.
- A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the present invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a view of a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIGS. 2A through 2D are views of a method of vertically aligning CNTs so as to manufacture the CNT structure ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photo of a colloid monolayer formed on a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM); -
FIG. 4 is an SEM photo of vertically aligned CNTs arranged between colloid particles; and -
FIG. 5 is a view of the electric field emission characteristics of an Field Emission Device (FED) having a CNT structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. - The present invention is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. The invention can, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , a predetermined material layer is formed on the surface of asubstrate 110 so that one end of each of theCNTs 140 can be attached well thereon. Thesubstrate 110 can be formed of a conductive material, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the material layer can be a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) 120 including a function group having affinity for theCNTs 140. TheSAM 120 can be formed of an organic material containing phosphorous, such as 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid. - A CNT support layer is formed on the
SAM 120. The CNT support layer includes a to plurality of pores exposing theSAM 120. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the CNT support layer can be acolloid monolayer 130 formed on theSAM 120. Thecolloid monolayer 130 includes a plurality of self-assembledcolloid particles 131. Also, the pores exposing theSAM 120 are formed between thecolloid particles 131. Thecolloid particles 131 can be formed of silica or polystyrene. - One end of each of the
CNTs 140 are attached on the portions of theSAM 120 exposed through the pores formed between thecolloid particles 131. Since the lateral sides of theCNTs 140 having large aspect ratios are supported by thecolloid particles 131, theCNTs 140 can be vertically aligned on thesubstrate 110 having theSAM 120 thereon with the help of the pores formed between thecolloid particles 131. - Though the
SAM 120 including a functional group having affinity for theCNTs 140 is formed on the surface of thesubstrate 110 in the present embodiment, the SAM cannot be formed but one end of each of theCNTs 140 can be directly attached to the portions of thesubstrates 110 exposed through the pores between the colloid particles. Also, though thecolloid monolayer 130 including a plurality ofcolloid particles 131 is used for a CNT support layer in the present invention, a predetermined material layer having a plurality of pores therein can be used. - A method of vertically aligning the CNTs so as to manufacture the CNT structure is described below.
FIGS. 2A through 2D are views of the method of vertically aligning the CNTs so as to manufacture the CNT structure. - Referring to
FIG. 2A , a firstconductive substrate 110 is provided. The firstconductive substrate 110 can be the substrate described in the above embodiment. The first toconductive substrate 110 can be formed of a transparent conductive material, such as ITO. Also, aSAM 120 including a function group having affinity for the CNTs (140 inFIG. 2D ) is formed on the firstconductive substrate 110. TheSAM 120 can be formed of an organic material containing phosphorous, such as 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid. In detail, theSAM 120 can be formed by making 5 mM of 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid and immersing the firstconductive substrate 110 in this solution for a predetermined period of time. - Referring to
FIG. 2B , a CNT support layer having a plurality of pores therein is formed on theSAM 120. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the CNT support layer can be acolloid monolayer 130 formed on theSAM 120. Thecolloid monolayer 130 includes a plurality of self-assembledcolloid particles 131. Also, the pores exposing theSAM 120 are formed between thecolloid particles 131. Thecolloid particles 131 can be formed of silica or polystyrene. In detail, silica particles having uniform nano sizes of about 570 nm are dispersed in a propanol solution and then this solution is spin-coated on the firstconductive substrate 110 on which theSAM 120 is formed, so that thecolloid monolayer 130 including a plurality of self-assembledcolloid particles 131 can be formed on theSAM 120. A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photo inFIG. 3 shows thecolloid monolayer 130 formed on theSAM 120. - Referring to
FIG. 2C , a secondconductive substrate 150 is arranged to be spaced a predetermined distance from the firstconductive substrate 110 on which thecolloid monolayer 130 is formed. The secondconductive substrate 150 can be formed of a transparent conductive material, such as ITO. Also, adispersion solution 160 dispersing the CNTs (140 inFIG. 2 ) therein is injected between the firstconductive substrate 110 and the secondconductive substrate 150. When the first and secondconductive substrates dispersion solution 160 can be injected between the firstconductive substrate 110 and the secondconductive substrate 150 by capillary action. - Subsequently, when a predetermined anode voltage and cathode voltage are respectively supplied to the first
conductive substrate 110 and the secondconductive substrate 150, an electric field is generated between the firstconductive substrate 110 and the secondconductive substrate 150. Also, one end of each of theCNTs 140 contained in thedispersion solution 160 are attached to the portions of theSAM 120 exposed through the pores formed between thecolloid particles 131 by the electric field. At this point, since theSAM 120 includes a function group having affinity for theCNTs 140, one end of each of theCNTs 140 are stably attached to theSAM 120 by chemical bonding. Also, the lateral sides of theCNTs 140 having large aspect ratios are supported by thecolloid particles 131, so that theCNTs 140 can be vertically aligned on thesubstrate 110 having the SAM thereon. - Lastly, when the
dispersion solution 160 and the secondconductive substrate 150 are removed, theCNTs 140 remain vertically aligned through the pores on thesubstrate 110 having thecolloid monolayer 130 thereon as illustrated inFIG. 2D .FIG. 4 is an SEMphoto showing CNTs 140 which are vertically aligned betweencolloid particles 131. - According to the inventive method for vertically aligning the CNTs, one end of each of the
CNTs 140 having large aspect ratios are attached to thesubstrate 110 through the pores between thecolloid particles 131 and the lateral sides of theCNTs 140 are supported by thecolloid particles 131, so that theCNTs 140 can be vertically aligned at predetermined positions on thesubstrate 110. - The CNT structure manufactured by the method of vertically aligning the CNTs according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a variety of electronic devices, and in particular, usefully applied to an electron emitting source of an FED.
-
FIG. 5 illustrates results obtained by measuring the electric field emission characteristics of an FED that uses the CNT structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5 , it is revealed that a current density required for the FED can be obtained by properly changing the intensity of an electric field applied between a cathode and an anode. - As described above, the present invention has the following effects.
- First, a colloid monolayer including a plurality of colloid parties is formed on the substrate, so that one end of each of the
CNTs 140 having large aspect ratios are attached to thesubstrate 110 through the pores formed between thecolloid particles 131 and the lateral sides of theCNTs 140 are supported by thecolloid particles 131. Therefore, theCNTs 140 can be vertically aligned at predetermined positions on thesubstrate 110. - Second, the method of vertically aligning the CNTs according to an embodiment of the present invention can vertically align the CNTs using a simple process that can be applied to the manufacture of a large-sized FED. Also, since the method does not require a high temperature process, the present invention has a small limitation for temperature.
- Third, the CNTs can be vertically aligned on the substrate using a small amount of CNTs. In detail, according to the inventive method of vertically aligning the CNTs, an amount of about 0.2 μg of CNTs is required for vertically aligning the CNTs on an area 1 cm2 of the substrate. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a 40-inch FED using only 1 mg of CNTs.
- While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims (9)
1. A Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure, comprising:
a substrate;
a CNT support layer stacked on the substrate and having a plurality of pores arranged therein; and
a plurality of CNTs, one end of each of the CNTs being attached to portions of the substrate exposed through the plurality of pores and lateral sides of each of the CNTs being supported by the CNT support layer.
2. The CNT structure of claim 1 , wherein a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) comprising a functional group having a chemical affinity for the plurality of CNTs is arranged on the surface of the substrate, and wherein one end of each of the CNTs is attached to the SAM through the plurality of pores.
3. The CNT structure of claim 2 , wherein the SAM comprises an organic material containing phosphorous.
4. The CNT structure of claim 3 , wherein the organic material containing phosphorous comprises 2-carboxyethyl phosphoric acid.
5. The CNT structure of claim 2 , wherein the CNT support layer comprises a colloid monolayer including a plurality of self-assembled colloid particles and wherein the plurality of pores are arranged between the colloid particles.
6. The CNT structure of claim 5 , wherein the colloid particles comprise either silica or polystyrene.
7. The CNT structure of claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises a conductive material.
8. The CNT structure of claim 7 , wherein the conductive material comprises Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).
9-16. (canceled)
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KR1020050095497A KR20070040129A (en) | 2005-10-11 | 2005-10-11 | Carbon naanotubes structure and vertical alignement method of the carbon nanotubes |
US11/455,192 US7371696B2 (en) | 2005-10-11 | 2006-06-19 | Carbon nanotube structure and method of vertically aligning carbon nanotubes |
US12/081,024 US20100320439A1 (en) | 2005-10-11 | 2008-04-09 | Carbon nanotube structure and method of vertically aligning carbon nanotubes |
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US8702897B2 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2014-04-22 | Georgia Tech Research Corporation | Structures including carbon nanotubes, methods of making structures, and methods of using structures |
TW201119935A (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2011-06-16 | Univ Nat Chiao Tung | Catalytic seeding control method |
KR101284274B1 (en) * | 2011-12-12 | 2013-07-08 | 한국과학기술원 | Sensor Having Nano Channel Structure and Method for Preparing the Same |
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US7371696B2 (en) | 2008-05-13 |
KR20070040129A (en) | 2007-04-16 |
US20070082426A1 (en) | 2007-04-12 |
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