Electric-field-aligned growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes on surfaces

Aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes are grown onto the surfaces of SiO2/Si substrates in electric fields established across patterned metal electrodes. Calculations of the electric field distribution under the designed electrode structures, the directing ability of electric fields, and the prevention of surface van der Waals interactions are used to rationalize the aligned growth. The capability of synthesizing oriented single-walled nanotubes on surfaces shall open up many opportunities in organized architectures of nanotubes for molecular electronics.