Carbon Nanotube Alignment Methods

Abstract

The outstanding properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exist in their nanoscale form. The CNTs must be maintained aligned in the device to preserve these properties in the macroscale and bulk form. Recently, many studies addressed the alignment of CNTs at different scales for different applications. For example, CNTs are aligned vertically simultaneously as they grow on a substrate. Pre-synthesized CNTs can be aligned horizontally on a large scale under the influence of external forces such as electric and magnetic forces. This chapter reviews the latest techniques and methods regarding the horizontal alignment of CNTs. The alignment methods are classified based on the force used to achieve the alignment. The chapter concludes by discussing each method’s advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications.