Patterning lyotropic liquid crystals as precursors for carbon nanotube arrays

摘要

We report on a simple patterning technique using lyotropic liquid-crystal solutions to fabricate organized arrays of high aspect ratio carbon nanostructures. An automated pen writing system is used in conjunction with nanochannel alumina templates to produce ordered arrays of nanotubes and nanofibers in a variety of shapes, widths, and carbon crystal structures set by surface anchoring phenomena. The nanostructure arrays are characterized with optical and electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to establish the morphology and crystal structures of the carbon nanoform arrays.