title: Versatile transfer of aligned carbon nanotubes with polydimethylsiloxane as the intermediate.
abstract: A simple technique to transfer aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is demonstrated in this work. With polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the transfer medium, as-grown or patterned MWCNT arrays are directly transferred onto a wide variety of Pt-coated substrates such as glossy paper, cloth, polymers, glass slides, and metal foils at low temperatures. The surface of the transferred CNTs is cleaner with better alignment, compared with the as-grown one. Furthermore, the transferred CNTs show strong adhesion and good electric contact with the target substrates. A maximal current density of ∼10(4) A cm(-2) has been achieved from the CNT interconnects prepared with this technique. Because of the lower density and open-ended structures, improved field emission performance has been obtained from CNTs transferred on polymers, based on which flexible emitter devices can be fabricated. In addition, the surface of transferred CNTs becomes more hydrophilic, with an averaged contact angle of 93.4 ± 5.8°, in contrast to the super-hydrophobic as-grown CNT surface (contact angle 151.6 ± 5.5°). With versatile properties and flexible applications, the technique provides a simple and cost-effective way towards future nanodevices based on CNTs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Blk S12, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, 117542, Singapore. National University of Singapore Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Blk E3A, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117576, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yanwu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiaodai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Mong Chea
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Chwee Teck
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Chorng Haur
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sow