This area of research is conducted by graduate student Cary Pint, and under supervision of Dr. Robert Hauge in the Department of Chemistry at Rice University. This area focuses on the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of novel structures of aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), the principle properties of aligned SWNT structures (electrical, optical, etc.), and the use of these materials in device applications. This allows a bottom-up approach to forming aligned SWNT structures, transferable to any host substrate in a one-step contact transfer process, which can serve as perfect templates for physical investigation and device applications. Current studies include understanding better techniques for catalytic production of these SWNT materials, and their implementation in a range of applications including supercapacitors, sensing devices, and reinforced multifunctional composite materials.

 

 

 

 

 

Left: As-grown vertically aligned SWNT from patterned catalyst substrates. Right: Optical micrograph of an array of horizontally aligned SWNT on polyethylene. SWNT were initially grown as vertical arrays (as in left image), and transferred to a flexible polyethylene film via contact transfer. Inset SEM image shows the alignment present in the SWNT arrays.