Nanoscale Application for Carbon Nanotube Arrays
Abstract
The original goals for the research program were to: 1) fabricate an interconnected array of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and 2) use the device to investigate cellular signaling in live cells. The most challenging part of this research (as anticipated) was the fabrication of the carbon nanotube array and most of the effort of this seed program was focused on this part. The interconnect fabrication was completed. A sample device without carbon nanotubes was packaged and tested with living cells to test the interface with optical microscopes and signal electronics. The most difficult part of fabricating an interconnected array of SWNTs is accurately growing or assembling them (with known properties) on interconnects. It was discovered that the nanotubes can be assembled on the interconnects using lithography that is much less demanding than previously reported or anticipated in the original proposal. This groundbreaking discovery will yield many applications for biological devices and integrated circuits using nanotubes. The main advantage is that the requirements on the lithography may be relaxed to the point where traditional manufacturing technology may be used to fabricate the device. This is a disruptive technology in that it may significantly shorten the time line for the introduction of many nanotube devices that would otherwise have to wait for the introduction of lithography that is at the end of the current roadmap for semiconductor technology. The result of this research program may be to reduce the development costs for nanotube devices by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA471875
Entities
People
- Reginald C Farrow
Organizations
- New Jersey Institute of Technology