Molecular Nanosystems, Inc.

Gang Gu

Lawrence S Pan

Lian Zhang

A catalyst material for carbon nanotube synthesis includes a uniform dispersion of host particles on a substrate. The host particles themselves include catalyst nanoparticles that are effective to catalyze nanotube syntheses reactions and provide nucleation sites. Methods for preparing catalyst materials include co-sputtering a catalytic species and a host species to form a precursor thin film on a substrate, followed by an oxidation reaction of the precursor thin film in air. The precursor thin film can be patterned on the substrate to limit the locations of the catalyst material to well-defined areas. Methods for nanotube synthesis employ CVD in conjunction with the catalyst materials of the invention. During the synthesis, the catalyst nanoparticles catalyze carbon nanotubes to grown from a carbon-containing gas.

Methods for producing and using catalytic substrates for carbon nanotube growth

In one embodiment a method for sensing specific molecules is provided. The method comprises forming a nanoelement structure and forming two spaced apart electrodes in contact with the nanoelement structure, wherein at least one of the electrodes is capable of functioning as a sensing element to sense the specific molecules.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Gang Gu