Method of fabricating a patterned nanoscopic article
View Patent ↗Nanowire articles and methods of making the same are disclosed. A conductive article includes a plurality of inter-contacting nanowire segments that define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article. The nanowire segments may be semiconducting nanowires, metallic nanowires, nanotubes, single walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, or nanowires entangled with nanotubes. The various segments may have different lengths and may include segments having a length shorter than the length of the article. A strapping material may be positioned to contact a portion of the plurality of nanowire segments. The strapping material may be patterned to create the shape of a frame with an opening that exposes an area of the nanowire fabric. Such a strapping layer may also be used for making electrical contact to the nanowire fabric especially for electrical stitching to lower the overall resistance of the fabric.
1. A conductive article comprising:
a plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers defining a plurality of conductive pathways; and
a lithographically-patterned thin metal layer that is positioned to contact a portion of the plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers.
2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanomaterial fibers include nanowire segments.
3. The article of claim 2 , wherein the nanowire segments include at least one of metallic nanowire segments and semiconducting nanowire segments.
4. The article of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanowire segments have different lengths.
5. The article of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanowire segments include segments having a length shorter than the length of the article.
6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanomaterial fibers include nanotube segments.
7. The article of claim 6 , wherein the nanotube segments include single-walled carbon nanotubes.
8. The article of claim 6 , wherein the nanotube segments include multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanomaterial fibers include nanowire segments entangled with nanotube segments.
10. The article of claim 1 , further comprising semiconducting nanomaterials interposed in porous regions among the plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers.
11. The article of claim 1 , further comprising metallic nanomaterials interposed in porous regions among the plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers.
12. The article of claim 1 , further comprising insulating nanomaterials interposed in porous regions among the plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers.
13. The article of claim 1 , further comprising support nanomaterials interposed in porous regions among the plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers, the support materials including at least one of: carbon, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon, aluminum, tungsten, titanium, copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum.
14. The article of claim 1 , wherein the thin metal layer contacts the periphery of the plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers.
15. The article of claim 1 , wherein the thin metal layer is lithographically patterned in the shape of a frame with an opening that exposes an area of the plurality of inter-contacting nanowire segments.
16. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is disposed on a substrate.
17. The article of claim 1 , wherein the thin metal layer is vertically aligned with the plurality of inter-contacting carbon nanomaterial fibers.
18. A conductive article comprising:
a defined pattern of nanomaterials, the nanomaterials including a mixture of carbon fibers forming a network having a resistance; and
a lithographically patterned thin metal layer that is positioned to contact a portion of the defined pattern of nanomaterials;
wherein the conductive article is constructed and arranged such that the resistance of the defined pattern of nanomaterials is selectively controlled.
19. The article of claim 18 , wherein the carbon fibers included nanotubes.
20. The article of claim 18 , wherein the carbon fibers include nanowires.
21. The article of claim 20 , wherein the nanowires include metallic nanowires.
22. The article of claim 20 , wherein the nanowires include semiconducting nanowires.
23. The article of claim 18 , wherein the carbon fibers are arranged in a network of a selected density to form a network having the selectively controlled resistance.
24. The article of claim 18 , wherein the thin metal layer contacts the periphery of the defined pattern of nanomaterials.
25. The article of claim 18 , wherein the thin metal layer is lithographically patterned in the shape of a frame with an opening that exposes an area of nanomaterials.
26. The article of claim 18 , wherein the article is disposed on a substrate.
27. The article of claim 18 , wherein the thin metal layer is vertically aligned with the nanomaterials.
28. The article of claim 18 , wherein the adhesion energy of one or more surfaces of the thin metal layer positioned to contact a portion of the nanomaterials is controlled such that a resistance of the article is selectively controlled.
29. The article of claim 18 , wherein the mixture of carbon fibers forming the network is selected such that said resistance of the defined pattern of nanomaterials is selectively controlled.
30. The article of claim 18 , wherein the lithographically patterned thin metal layer is deposited overlying and at least partially through the portion of the defined pattern of nanomaterials.
31. The article of claim 30 , wherein the thin metal layer constructed and arranged to decrease the resistance of the defined pattern of nanomaterials.
32. The article of claim 18 , further comprising support nanomaterials interposed in porous regions among the mixture of carbon fibers forming the network, the support materials including at least one of: carbon, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon, aluminum, tungsten, titanium, copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum.