Deposition of multi-wall carbon nanotubes on self-assembled monolayer with different terminal groups

Self-assembled monolayer APTES with terminal amino and OTS with methyl group have been prepared on single-silicon crystal substrate. Then the deposition of carbon nanotube was conducted by immerging the APTES and OTS self-assembled monolayer into the solution with suspended carbon nanotubes. SEM images show that carbon nanotubes absorb on the surface of amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer, due to the strong static electric force between the APTES self-assembled monolayer and the suspended carbon nanotubes. There is no carbon nanotubes on methyl -terminated self-assembled monolayers. The experiments represent significant step in development of carbon nanotube based on nanotechnology, provide the opportunity for manipulation of individual carbon nanotubes into nanostructure and nanodevices by chemical means.