Methods and structures for promoting stable synthesis of carbon nanotubes

US7374793B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Toshiharu Furukawa · South Burlington, US
• Mark C. Hakey · Saint Albans, US
• Steven J. Holmes · Colchester, US
• David Vaclav Hotak · South Burlington, US
• Charles W. Koburger, III · Delmar, US
• Peter H. Mitchell · Jericho, US
• Larry Nesbit · Farmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2003
• Grant date: May 20, 2008
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/30
• WIPO field: Micro-structural and nano-technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method for synthesizing carbon nanotubes and structure formed thereby. The method includes forming carbon nanotubes on a plurality of synthesis sites supported by a first substrate, interrupting nanotube synthesis, mounting a free end of each carbon nanotube to a second substrate, and removing the first substrate. Each carbon nanotube is capped by one of the synthesis sites, to which growth reactants have ready access. As the carbon nanotubes lengthen during resumed nanotube synthesis, access to the synthesis sites remains unoccluded.