Influencing Factors and Techniques of Carbon Nanotube Assembly by Dielectrophoresis

Abstract

Due to their excellent properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have the potential to be applied as functional elements for nanoelectronics, nanoelectromechanical systems, new energy, sensors, and others. One precondition for many of these applications is to assemble CNTs into devices and the number and position of assembled CNTs usually need to be controlled. The process factors for CNT assembly by dielectrophoresis (DEP), which include the magnitude of the applied voltage, the concentration of the CNT suspension, the duration of the electric field, and the geometry of the CNTs, and the shape of the electrodes, have great influence on the assembly results. Some techniques based on DEP, such as those adding floating electrodes, optically induced DEP (ODEP) and using hydrodynamic force, can realize precise positioning of CNTs. This paper introduces the factors and techniques which influence the number and position of assembled CNTs. The research intends to provide help for the application of CNTs in nanoelectronics.