Single-walled carbon nanotubes and methods of preparation thereof

1. A plastic, comprising:

a surface;

an axis perpendicular or oblique to the surface; and

one or more single-walled carbon nanotubes are embedded along the axis into the surface and extending from the surface.

2. The plastic of claim 1 , wherein the one or more single-walled carbon nanotubes are partially embedded into the surface.

3. The plastic of claim 1 , wherein the one or more single-walled carbon nanotubes comprise a film on the surface.

4. A method for adhering a carbon nanotube film to a surface, comprising:

a) providing a gas stream including carbon and oxygen and using the gas stream to grow a carbon nanotube film including single-walled carbon nanotubes on a substrate, while using the oxygen to mitigate the formation of hydrogen radicals during the growth of the single-walled carbon nanotubes;

b) transferring the carbon nanotube film from the substrate to a surface coated with a first polymer; and

c) heating the first polymer to a first temperature above the glass transition temperature of the first polymer, thereby adhering the free carbon nanotube film to the surface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein step b) further comprises removing the substrate to provide a free carbon nanotube film.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein step c) further comprises cooling the first polymer to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the first polymer, thereby fixing the carbon nanotube film to the first polymer.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises:

d) removing the substrate from the carbon nanotube film to provide a carbon nanotube film adhered to the surface.

8. The method of any one of claim 5 or 7 , wherein removing the substrate comprises etching the substrate with a fluoride source.