Aligned carbon nanotube-polymer materials, systems and methods

摘要

The invention is directed to carbon nanostructure composite systems which may be useful for various applications, including as dry adhesives, electronics and display technologies, or in a wide variety of other areas where organized nanostructures may be formed and integrated into a flexible substrate. The present invention provides systems and methods wherein organized nanotube structures or other nanostructures are embedded within polymers or other flexible materials to provide a flexible skin-like material, with the properties and characteristics of the nanotubes or other nanostructures exploited for use in various applications. In one aspect, the invention is directed to a carbon nanotube/polymer composite material having a plurality of carbon nanotubes formed into a predetermined architecture, with each of the plurality of nanotubes having a desired width and length. The architecture of the plurality of nanotubes defines at least one orientation for a plurality of nanotubes, and also defines the approximate spacing between nanotubes and/or groups of nanotubes. The carbon nanotube architecture is at least partially embedded with a polymer matrix in a manner that the architecture is stabilized in the predetermined architecture. The polymer matrix may also be formed to have a desired predetermined thickness.

主权项

1. A carbon nanostructure/polymer composite material comprising:
a plurality of carbon nanostructures having substantially opposed ends formed into a predetermined architecture that includes a hierarchical structure in which larger structures are combined with smaller structures, the carbon nanostructures architecture configured such that one end of each said plurality of carbon nanostructures is embedded within a polymer matrix that is formed as an elongated tube, said plurality of carbon nanostructures extending from said polymer matrix in a manner that the predetermined architecture is stabilized in said polymer matrix, the other end of each said plurality of carbon nanostructures forming said hierarchical structure is exposed above said polymer matrix and proximate to a cavity formed by said elongated tube.