US Patent 7381316 - CNT positioning using AC+DC field

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7381316.html

This patent from Northwestern University teaches an interesting positioning and alignment method for placing a carbon nanotube between electrodes. An ac field is used to attract the nanotube to the electrodes while a dc field provides the orientation of the nanotube with respect to the electrodes. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of depositing a carbon nanotube, said method comprising:

providing a first electrode at a distance from a second electrode, said electrodes on a substrate and comprising a first electrode pair;

introducing at least one carbon nanotube proximate said electrodes; and

generating a composite electric field between said electrodes, said field having an ac electric field component and a dc electric field component, said composite electric field depositing a carbon nanotube across said electrode pair.