Strategies for Post-Synthesis Alignment and Immobilization of Carbon Nanotubes

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2011-02, Vol.23 (8), p.953-970
• Main Authors: Druzhinina, Tamara, Hoeppener, Stephanie, Schubert, Ulrich S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alignment; Boundaries; Carbon nanotubes; Immobilization; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology - methods; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Physical Phenomena; Strategy
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201003509

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have developed into a standard material used as a building block for nanotechnological developments. Based on the unique properties that make CNTs useful for many different applications in nanotechnology, optics, electronics, and material science, there has been a rapid development of this research area and many different applications have emerged in the past few years. Frequently, the alignment and immobilization of CNTs play an important role for many applications and different strategies, in particular post‐synthesis approaches, can be applied. Recent developments of different techniques to immobilize and align carbon nanotubes are discussed and classified into three main categories: chemical immobilization and alignment, physical immobilization and alignment, and the use of external fields for these purposes. Many of the techniques involve multiple steps and may also cross these rather crudely defined boundaries. As such, the techniques are classified according to their most important or unique step. The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) frequently requires their organization and ordering, both horizontally and vertically on surfaces. This review provides an overview of current state‐of‐the‐art methods for the post‐synthesis alignment of CNTs. The techniques are classified into three main categories: chemical‐driven alignment and immobilization, physical‐driven alignment and immobilization, and alignment and immobilization by external fields.