TUD

Self-assembly of nanoparticles has promising technological applications since it provides efficient building blocks for physical, chemical, and biological systems. Localization of nanoparticles at liquid-liquid interfaces by manipulating the particle surface energy is an upcoming area with great potential for applied and fundamental research. Apart from regular technological applications, such tailor made assembly opens a window to fabricate self assembled interfacial structured hybrid materials with unique properties. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent an anisotropic and perfectly one-dimensional class of nanoparticles with extraordinary properties. CNTs were functionalized by various surfactants to prevent its agglomeration due to van-der-Waals forces. This dispersion was added to an immiscible solvent and CNTs were self assembled with the aid of electric field via dielectrophoresis between pre-fabricated inter-digitated electrodes on silicon substrates. A potential drop across the interface may provide sufficiently deep potential wells for self assembly at the interface.