Our researches are focused on (1) 3-D networking on silicon templates and its applications in the field of sensors and (2) the vertical alignment of SWCNTs. The 3-D network of SWCNTs offers the nano-sized electrodes with large surface area to the SWCNTs-based potential applications including solar-cells, chemical- and bio-sensors, and etc. The 3-D networks of SWCNTs were fabricated by synthesizing SWCNTs on the 3-D structures of Si substrates. The Si templates of hole and pillar structures were prepared by electrochemical etching and conventional deep etching processes, respectively. By forming catalyst nanoparticles on the above Si templates using a dipping method, the SWCNTs were uniformly synthesized with desired density on those 3-D structures of Si substrates. The 3-D networks of SWCNTs are useful as highly efficient electrodes for the potential applications in the fields of strain sensor and solar cell. The vertical alignment of SWCNTs was performed on a gold electrode by DC electrophoretic deposition. Applying ultrasonic energy resulted in dramatic changes of the film morphology and the deposited SWNT bundles reassembled and oriented normal to the electrode. The method for aligning SWNTs normal to the electrode may be competitive with chemical vapor deposition or screen printing, the predominant methods by which vertically aligned SWNT films have been fabricated to date. The presentation will focus on the manipulation, alignment, and application of SWCNTs.
