Carbon nanotube forests: synthesis, patterning, milling, mechanics, and applications

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) forests are a nano-structured material consisting of vertically oriented carbon nanotubes. The material has many exceptional and unique physical properties that have motivated considerable research in the past 10 years. CNT forests hold promise for diverse applications in the fields of thermal interfaces, mechanical interfaces, electrical interconnects, molecular sensors, battery cathodes, energy storage devices, and low reflectance coatings. This thesis seeks to introduce the reader to nanotechnology and nano-carbon materials, and explain several processes for creating, patterning, shaping, modifying physical properties, testing, and using carbon nanotube forests in novel applications. The thesis is organized so that each chapter describes an individual project or publication and is independent of other chapters.