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US7147894: Method for assembling nano objects

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Filing Information

Inventor(s) Otto Z. Zhou · Hideo Shimoda · Soojin Oh ·
Assignee(s) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ·
Attorney/Agent(s) Jenkins, Wilson, Taylor & Hunt, P.A. ·
Primary Examiner Katherine Bareford ·
Application Number US10103803
Filing date 03/25/2002
Issue date 12/12/2006
Prior Publication Data
Predicted expiration date 07/20/2022
Patent term adjustment 117
U.S. Classifications 427/256  · 977/848  · 977/847  · 427/903  · 977/882  · 427/430.1  ·
International Classifications B05D118  ·
Kind CodeB2
10 Claims, 8 Drawings


Abstract

A method for the self assembly of a macroscopic structure with a pre-formed nano object is provided. The method includes processing a nano object to a desired aspect ratio and chemical functionality and mixing the processed nano object with a solvent to form a suspension. Upon formation of the suspension, a substrate is inserted into the suspension. By either evaporation of the solvent, changing the pH value of the suspension, or changing the temperature of the suspension, the nano objects within the suspension deposit onto the substrate in an orientational order. In addition, a seed crystal may be used in place of the substrate thereby forming single-crystals and free-standing membranes of the nano-objects.

Independent Claims | See all claims (10)

  1. 1. A method for assembling a macroscopic structure with elongated nano objects, the method comprising: (a) processing the elongated nano objects such that tails of the elongated nano objects are hydrophobic and bodies of the elongated nano objects are hydrophilic; (b) admixing the processed elongated nano objects in a suitable hydrophobic solvent to form a suspension, the suspension having a concentration, a temperature and a pH level; (c) submersing a hydrophobic substrate into the suspension; (d) changing either the concentration, temperature or the pH value of the suspension thereby assembling the elongated nano objects on a surface of the substrate, wherein the tails of the elongated nano objects attach to the substrate surface such that longitudinal axes of the elongated nano objects are perpendicular to the substrate surface.
  2. 8. A method for assembling a macroscopic structure with elongated nano objects, the method comprising: (a) processing the elongated nano objects such that tails of the elongated nano objects are hydrophilic and bodies of the elongated nano objects are hydrophobic; (b) admixing the processed elongated nano objects in a suitable hydrophilic solvent to form a suspension, the suspension having a concentration, a temperature and a pH level; (c) submersing a hydrophilic substrate into the suspension; (d) changing either the concentration, temperature or the pH value of the suspension thereby assembling the elongated nano objects on a surface of the substrate, wherein the tails of the elongated nano objects attach to the substrate surface such that longitudinal axes of the elongated nano objects are perpendicular to the substrate surface.
  3. 10. A method for assembling a macroscopic structure with elongated nano objects, the method comprising: (a) processing the elongated nano objects such that tails of the elongated nano objects are hydrophobic and bodies of the elongated nano objects are hydrophilic; (b) admixing the processed elongated nano objects in a suitable hydrophobic solvent to form a suspension, the suspension having a concentration, a temperature and a pH level; (c) submersing a hydrophobic substrate into the suspension; (d) changing either the concentration, temperature or the pH value of the suspension thereby assembling the elongated nano objects on a surface of the substrate, wherein the tails of the elongated nano objects attach to the substrate surface such that longitudinal axes of the elongated nano objects are perpendicular to the substrate surface; and (e) wherein the hydrophobic solvent comprises an aromatic hydrocarbon and wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon is toluene.

References Cited

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Foreign Patent Documents

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Other Publications

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Referenced By

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