The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Xintek, Inc.

Soojin Oh

Otto Z Zhou

Bo Gao

Guozhen Yue

Hideo Shimoda

Jian Zhang

Yuan Cheng

A method for depositing a coating of a nanostructure material onto a substrate includes: (1) forming a solution or suspension of containing the nanostructure material; (2) selectively adding 'chargers' to the solution; (3) immersing electrodes in the solution, the substrate upon which the nanostructure material is to be deposited acting as one of the electrodes; (4) applying a direct and/or alternating current electrical field between the two electrodes for a certain period of time thereby causing the nanostructure materials in the solution to migrate toward and attach themselves to the substrate electrode; and (5) subsequent optional processing of the coated substrate.

Deposition method for nanostructure materials

A method for attaching nanostructure-containing material onto a sharp tip of an object includes forming a suspension of pre-formed nanostructure-containing material in a liquid medium. An electrode is immersed in the suspension. The sharp tip of the object is arranged to be in contact with the suspension. A voltage is applied to the immersed electrode and to the sharp tip. The nanostructure-containing material attaches to the sharp tip of the object.

Method and apparatus for attaching nanostructure-containing material onto a sharp tip of an object and related articles

A method for depositing a patterned coating of a nanostructure material onto a substrate includes: (1) forming a solution or suspension of containing the nanostructure material; (2) masking at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate (3) immersing electrodes in the solution, the substrate upon which the nanostructure material is to be deposited acting as one of the electrodes or is electrically connected to at least one electrode; (4) applying a direct and/or alternating current electrical field between the two electrodes for a certain period of time thereby causing the nanostructure materials in the solution to migrate toward and attach themselves to the substrate electrode; and (5) subsequent optional processing.

A method for the self assembly of a macroscopic structure with a pre-formed nano object is provided. The method includes processing a nano object to a desired aspect ratio and chemical functionality and mixing the processed nano object with a solvent to form a suspension. Upon formation of the suspension, a substrate is inserted into the suspension. By either evaporation of the solvent, changing the pH value of the suspension, or changing the temperature of the suspension, the nano objects within the suspension deposit onto the substrate in an orientational order. In addition, a seed crystal may be used in place of the substrate thereby forming single-crystals and free-standing membranes of the nano-objects.

Method for assembling nano objects

Methods and apparatus are described for patterned deposition of nanostructure-containing materials by self-assembly and related articles. According to an exemplary embodiment self-assembly method for depositing nanostructure-containing materials includes forming a nanostructure-containing material. The nanostructure-containing material is chemically functionalized and dispersed in a liquid medium to form a suspension. At least a portion of a substrate having a surface that can attract the functionalized nanostructure-containing material is brought into contact with the suspension. The substrate is separated from the suspension. The nanostructure-containing material adheres to the portion of the substrate when separated from the suspension. According to another exemplary embodiment, hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions are formed on the surface of the substrate before bringing the substrate into contact with the suspension. The functionalized nanostructure-containing material is hydrophilic and adheres to the hydrophilic region of the substrate when separated from the suspension.

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Carrboro, NC, United States of America

Soojin Oh