Electric-field-aligned growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes on surfaces

Abstract
Aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes are grown onto the surfaces of SiO 2 / Si substrates in electric fields established across patternedmetalelectrodes. Calculations of the electric field distribution under the designed electrode structures, the directing ability of electric fields, and the prevention of surfacevan der Waals interactions are used to rationalize the aligned growth. The capability of synthesizing oriented single-walled nanotubes on surfaces shall open up many opportunities in organized architectures of nanotubes for molecular electronics.