We demonstrate the ability to precisely control the deposition of a defined number of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from solution onto microfabricated electrodes using dielectrophoresis. The solvation shelf around the CNTs, exhibiting a high dielectric constant which is possibly larger than the intrinsic dielectric constant of CNTs, is found to play a crucial role in electrophoretic processes. Substrate resistivity is also. very important: The spatial repartition of the electric field between the substrate and the microelectrodes leads to deviations from the precise location of the CNTs. A recipe is given for the dielectrophoresis of CNTs which can be extended to other nanowires or nanotubes.
Johann Michler, Ivo Utke, Xavier Maeder
Nicola Marzari, Lorenzo Bastonero
Nicolas Lawrence Etienne Longeard