Method and system for printing aligned nanowires and other electrical devices
View Patent ↗Methods and systems for applying nanowires and electrical devices to surfaces are described. In a first aspect, at least one nanowire is provided proximate to an electrode pair. An electric field is generated by electrodes of the electrode pair to associate the at least one nanowire with the electrodes. The electrode pair is aligned with a region of the destination surface. The at least one nanowire is deposited from the electrode pair to the region. In another aspect, a plurality of electrical devices is provided proximate to an electrode pair. An electric field is generated by electrodes of the electrode pair to associate an electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices with the electrodes. The electrode pair is aligned with a region of the destination surface. The electrical device is deposited from the electrode pair to the region.
1. A method for applying nanowires to a destination surface, comprising:
aligning an electrode pair having an associated at least one nanowire with a region of the destination surface; and
depositing the at least one nanowire from the electrode pair to the region.
2. A method for transferring nanowires to a destination surface, comprising:
providing at least one nanowire proximate to an electrode pair;
generating an electric field with electrodes of the electrode pair to associate the at least one nanowire with the electrodes;
aligning the electrode pair with a region of the destination surface; and
depositing the at least one nanowire from the electrode pair to the region.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electrode pair is mounted to a transfer surface, further comprising:
configuring the transfer surface to have a first electric charge.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first electric charge applies a repulsive electrostatic force to the at least one nanowire, wherein said generating comprises:
configuring the electric field to attract the at least one nanowire to the transfer surface against the repulsive electrostatic force.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said configuring comprises:
biasing the electric field with an alternating current (AC) field to attract the at least one nanowire to the transfer surface.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said depositing comprises:
biasing the electric field with a second AC field to enable the at least one nanowire to move toward the destination surface.
7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
configuring the destination surface to have a second electric charge that is opposite the first electric charge.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said aligning comprises:
enabling the at least one nanowire to be attracted to the destination surface by an attractive electrostatic force of the second electric charge by reducing a distance between the at least one nanowire and the destination surface.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said depositing comprises:
attracting the at least one nanowire toward the destination surface with the second electric charge.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said depositing comprises:
ultrasonically vibrating the transfer surface to enable an attractive electrostatic force of the second electric charge to attract the at least one nanowire toward the destination surface.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein said depositing comprises:
applying a vacuum from the destination surface to the transfer surface to move the at least one nanowire toward the destination surface.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein said depositing comprises:
generating a second electric field associated with the destination surface to attract the at least one nanowire toward the destination surface.
13. The method of claim 2 , wherein said depositing comprises:
ceasing generation of the electric field.
14. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
configuring the destination surface to have a hydrophilic property to attract a solution containing the at least one nanowire toward the destination surface.
15. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
configuring the transfer surface to have a hydrophobic property to repel a solution containing the at least one nanowire.
16. The method of claim 2 , wherein said providing comprises:
flowing a solution containing the at least one nanowire on the electrode pair.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
varying a rate of flow of the solution on the electrode pair.
18. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and the at least one nanowire includes a first nanowire, wherein said generating comprises:
causing a first end of the first nanowire to be positioned adjacent to a surface of the first electrode, and a second end of the first nanowire to be positioned adjacent to a surface of the second electrode.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said generating comprises:
causing the at least one nanowire to align substantially in parallel with an axis through the first and second electrodes.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said generating comprises:
positioning the at least one nanowire such that the first and second ends are not in contact with the first and second electrodes.
21. The method of claim 2 , wherein the region includes an electrical contact pair, wherein said aligning comprises:
contacting the electrode pair with the electrical contact pair.
22. The method of claim 2 , wherein said aligning comprises:
contacting the electrode pair with the destination surface.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said contacting comprises:
causing a cantilever that mounts a first electrode of the electrode pair to flex due to said contacting.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein said contacting comprises:
causing a pair of cantilevers that mount the electrode pair to flex due to said contacting.
25. The method of claim 2 , wherein said aligning comprises:
positioning the electrode pair adjacent to the surface.
26. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
removing the electrode pair from alignment with the region of the destination surface.
27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:
providing a second at least one nanowire proximate to the electrode pair;
generating a second electric field with the electrodes of the electrode pair to associate the second at least one nanowire with the electrodes;
aligning the electrode pair with a second region of the surface;
depositing the at least one nanowire from the electrode pair to the second region.
28. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first electrode pair and a second electrode pair are on a common transfer surface, further comprising:
in parallel with said providing the first at least one nanowire proximate to the first electrode pair, providing a second at least one nanowire proximate to the second electrode pair;
in parallel with said generating the first electric field, generating a second electric field with second electrodes of the second electrode pair to associate the second at least one nanowire with the second electrodes;
in parallel with said aligning the first electrode pair with the first region of the surface, aligning the second electrode pair with a second region of the surface; and
in parallel with said depositing the first at least one nanowire from the first electrode pair to the first region, depositing the second at least one nanowire from the second electrode pair to the second region.
29. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
removing uncoupled nanowires from the electrode pair.