Microcontact printing process of individual for the patterned growth CNTs

We report an original approach to pattern a substrate with isolated carbon nanotubes. Through the improvement of the microcontact printing technique by the use of a new composite stamp, we were able to produce on flat substrates micrometric features of a catalyst suitable for the localised growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes by catalytic chemical vapour deposition. This catalyst material is for the first time prepared via an original sol-gel process. The growth of straight carbon nanotubes between the patterns was observed and a method to promote the controlled growth of such isolated nanoobjects is thus conceivable. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.