Self-assembling and patterning of carbon nanotubes using solvent evaporation

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been paid much attention because of their unique mechanical and electrical properties. Especially, field-effect transistors (FETs) of CNTs are expected to become semiconductor devices with high carrier mobility. However, difficulty of patterning billions of CNTs in desired position and fabricating of circuit patterns is still hindering the realization of EFTs of CNTs. In this study, we developed new patterning methods of CNTs by using self-assembly during solvent evaporation. CNTs have lyotropic liquid crystallinity in a certain condition. We realized fabrication of highly ordered structures of CNTs by utilizing liquid crystalline-derived spontaneous self-assembly. Additionally, we changed pattern structure of CNTs by optimizing initial concentration of CNTs solution and evaporation rate of solvent. Developed method can easily created the ordered structures by optimizing liquid crystallinity and evaporation behavior of CNTs solution; this method can contribute to the application of CNTs as innovative materials.