Diverse 3D microarchitectures made by capillary forming of carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A new technology called capillary forming enables transformation of vertically aligned nanoscale filaments into complex three-dimensional microarchitectures. We demonstrate capillary forming of carbon nanotubes into diverse forms having intricate bends, twists, and multidirectional textures. In addition to their novel geometries, these structures have mechanical stiffness exceeding that of microfabrication polymers, and can be used as masters for replica molding. © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.