Zn microcrystal-mediated fabrication of carbon nanotube patterns

Carbon nanotube (CNT) patterns have been fabricated with the assistance of Zn that possesses a low boiling point and different morphologies. Pre-patterning and post-synthesis patterning by Zn microcrystals were used to prepare the CNT patterns. The pre-patterning approach uses Zn microcrystals deposited on a SiO₂ substrate as sacrificial templates for the growth of CNTs by chemical vapor deposition under a floating catalyst. The post-synthesis patterning was carried out by Zn microcrystal deposition onto pre-formed CNT films. The CNT patterns were obtained by both methods after Zn was evaporated despite their differences in process conditions. These novel approaches may become alternative routes for the assembly of CNT-based structures in a simple and controllable way.