The fabrication methods of the microelectronics industry have been refined to produce ever smaller devices, but will soon reach their fundamental limits. A promising alternative route to even smaller functional systems with nanometre dimensions is the autonomous ordering and assembly of atoms and molecules on atomically well-defined surfaces. This approach combines ease of fabrication with exquisite control over the shape, composition and mesoscale organization of the surface structures formed. Once the mechanisms controlling the self-ordering phenomena are fully understood, the self-assembly and growth processes can be steered to create a wide range of surface nanostructures from metallic, semiconducting and molecular materials.

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Engineering atomic and molecular nanostructures at surfaces

The investigation of the field emission (FE) properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) films by a scanning anode FE apparatus, reveals a strong dependence on the density and morphology of the CNT deposit. Large differences between the microscopic and macroscopic current and emission site densities are observed, and explained in terms of a variation of the field enhancement factor β. As a consequence, the emitted current density can be optimized by tuning the density of CNTs. Films with medium densities (on the order of 107 emitters/cm2, according to electrostatic calculations) show the highest emitted current densities.

Scanning field emission from patterned carbon nanotube films

Carbon Nanotube Thin Films: Fabrication, Properties, and Applications

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/nylon-6 (PA6) nanocomposites with different MWNTs loadings have been prepared by the simple melt-compounding approach. A fine and homogeneous dispersion of MWNT...

Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Nylon-6 Composites

We report on the surface modification of Sylgard-184 poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) networks by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ultraviolet/ozone (UVO) treatment. The effects of the UV light wavelength and ambient conditions on the surface properties of Sylgard-184 are probed using a battery of experimental probes, including static contact angle measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure, and X-ray reflectivity. Our results reveal that when exposed to UV, the PDMS macromolecules in the surface region of Sylgard-184 undergo chain scission, involving both the main chain backbone and the side groups. The radicals formed during this process recombine and form a network whose wetting properties are similar to those of a UV-modified model PDMS. In contrast to the UV radiation, the UVO treatment causes very significant changes in the surface and near-surface structure of Sylgard-184. Specifically, the molecular oxygen and ozone created during the UVO process interact with the UV-modified specimen. As a result of these interactions, the surface of the sample contains a large number of hydrophilic (mainly -OH) groups. In addition, the material density within the first approximately 5 nm reaches about 50% of that of pure silica. A major conclusion that can be drawn from the results and analysis described in this work is that the presence of the silica fillers in Sylgard-184 does not alter the surface properties of the UVO- and UV-modified Sylgard-184.

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Surface modification of Sylgard-184 poly(dimethyl siloxane) networks by ultraviolet and ultraviolet/ozone treatment.

change in the vibrational structure of the PL spectrum were effected by MWNTs. The reduction of the PL efficiency can be a result of energy transfer and partial hole transfer from PPV chains to MWNTs, together with scattering and absorption by MWNTs. Using the composite, photovoltaic devices have been fabricated by employing MWNT as a hole-collecting electrode. We obtained good quantum efficiency (1.8 % at 2.9±3.2 eV), about twice that of the standard ITO device. It is considered that the high efficiency arises from a complex interpenetrating network of PPV chains with MWNTs and the relatively high work function of the MWNT film. The present results suggest the possible application of carbon nanotubes as a new interesting electrode material in macroscale devices.

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E. Maillard-Schaller

Papers

Patterned Films of Nanotubes Using Microcontact Printing of Catalysts