Architectures from Aligned Nanotubes Using Controlled Micropatterning of Silicon Substrates and Electrochemical Methods

Flowers, cacti, and more…︁ The fabrication and characterization of different micromorphologies (resembling flowers, volcanoes, cacti, and cakes; see images) of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes is described. These micromorphologies were grown by using chemical vapor deposition approaches on self-assembled microislands, prepatterned on porous silicon substrates by electrochemical etching. The etching method results in different types of uniform ring-shaped SiOx micropatterns on the substrates.