Controlling the orientation of carbon nanotubes in nano assembly

In this paper, a new mathematical model describing precisely the rotation/orientation of carbon nanotubes in viscous medium (acetone) is presented. This new mathematical model correctly assumes that carbon nanotubes form a line shape after undergoing AC dielectrophoretic force (DEP) compare to existing model that assumes carbon nanotubes to be a spherical particle. The new mathematical model is based on a new developed model for applied torque due to dielectrophoresis. It is also a method for controlled assembly of the CNTs on microstructures that have the plausibility to be scaled to wafer-level manufacturing. Simulation results are presented for the developed models. The developed model can be used to detect the position of carbon nanotubes and further implemented in the separation of semiconducting and metallic band structure carbon nanotubes. Ultimately, the developed model will provide a critical and major step towards the use of carbon nanotubes in the manufacturing of electronics and sensors for potential use in electrical circuits, as fiber and film, computer circuits, light bulb filament, ultracapacitors, combat jackets, etc. © 2007 IEEE.