Carbon nanotube structures made using catalyst islands

Patent 6346189 Issued on February 12, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 14, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Method and device for the production of carbon nanotubes
Patent #: 5482601
Issued on: 01/09/1996
Inventor: Ohshima, et al.

Fibrils
Patent #: 5500200
Issued on: 03/19/1996
Inventor: Mandeville, et al.

Method for producing encapsulated nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes using catalytic disproportionation of carbon monoxide Patent #: 5780101
Issued on: 07/14/1998
Inventor: Nolan, et al.

Inventors

Application

No. 133948 filed on 08/14/1998

US Classes:

205/766, Solid (e.g., articles, particles, ore, etc.)73/105, Roughness423/445R, Elemental carbon423/453By contacting with catalyst or hot solid surface

Examiners

Primary: Mayekar, Kishor

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Lumen Intellectual Property Services

Foreign Patent References

913 508 EP. 02/13/1998
9510481 WO. 04/13/1995
WO 98/05920 WO. 02/13/1998

International Class

G01B 005/28

Abstract

The present invention includes several nanotube structures which can be made using catalyst islands disposed on a substrate (e.g. silicon, alumina, or quartz) or on the free end of an atomic force microscope cantilever. The catalyst islands are capable of catalyzing the growth of carbon nanotubes from carbon containing gases (e.g. methane). The present invention includes an island of catalyst material (such as Fe2 O3) disposed on the substrate with a carbon nanotube extending from the island. Also included in the present invention is a pair of islands with a nanotube extending between the islands, electrically connecting them. Conductive metal lines connected to the islands (which may be a few microns on a side) allows for external circuitry to connect to the nanotube. Such a structure can be used in many different electronic and microelectromechanical devices. For example, a nanotube connected between two islands can function as a resonator if the substrate beneath the nanotube is etched away. Also, the present invention includes a catalyst particle disposed on the free end of an AFM cantilever and having a nanotube extending from the particle. The nanotube can be used as the scanning tip of the AFM as is know in the art.