SHARP TIP CARBON NANOTUBE MICRONEEDLE DEVICES AND THEIR FABRICATION

摘要

Namely, CNT microneedle and microneedle array fabrication is contemplated in which the starting-material carbon nanotube pillars are refined in shape. Through oxygen plasma etching action or treatment, CNT pillars are transformed to microneedles having micronsize ends to enable an easy and painless skin penetration. Both direct and remote oxygen plasma treatments can be used to etch the CNT pillars, as long as the etching rate at the top of the pillar is higher than that at the bottom of the pillar. A direct oxygen plasma treatment is preferable when a thick crust layer composed of highly entangled CNT or amorphous carbon presents at the top of the CNT pillars due to its anisotropic etching properties.