Controlled growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes on patterned substrates

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted great interest in the last two decades

because of their unique electrical, optical, thermal, mechanical properties, etc. One major

research field of SWCNTs is the controlled growth of them from the patterned catalysts on

substrates, since the integration of SWCNTs into nanoelectronics and other devices requires

well-organized SWCNT arrays. This tutorial review describes the commonly used lithographic

techniques to pattern catalysts used for controlled growth of SWCNTs, specifically confined to

horizontal direction. Advantages and disadvantages of each method will be briefly discussed.

Applications of the SWCNT arrays grown from the catalyst patterns will also be introduced.