Directed Assembly of End-Functionalized Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Segments.
A key impediment to the implementation of a nanoelectronics technology based on single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is the inability to arrange them in a manner suitable for integration into complex circuits. As a step toward addressing this problem, we explore the binding of fixed-length, end-functionalized SWCNT segments to lithographically defined nanoscale anchors, such that individual SWCNTs can be placed with control over position and orientation. Both monovalent and bivalent bindings are explored using covalent and noncovalent binding chemistries. Placement efficiency is assessed in terms of overall yield of SWCNT binding, as well as binding specificity and the degree of nonspecific binding. Placement yields as high as 93% and 79% are achieved, respectively, for covalent binding and for binding through DNA hybridization. Orientational control of the SWCNT segments is achieved with 95% and 51% efficiency for monovalent and bivalent bindings, respectively. This represents a new approach that could pave the way toward complex SWCNT devices and circuits.
Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University , New York, New York 10027, United States.
Erika
E
Penzo
Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University , New York, New York 10027, United States.
Matteo
M
Palma
Department of Chemistry, Columbia University , New York, New York 10027, United States.
Risheng
R
Wang
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University , New York, New York 10027, United States.
Haogang
H
Cai
National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States.
Ming
M
Zheng
Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University , New York, New York 10027, United States.
Shalom J
SJ
Wind
Carbon nanotubes; DNA assembly; directed assembly; multivalent binding