Innovative method to fabricate complex 3D microstructures

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http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=19487.php

Description

Innovative method to fabricate complex 3D microstructures (Nanowerk News) Researchers from imec and the University of Michigan have reported a new technology to fabricate complex three-dimensional microstructures, with intricate bends, twists, and multidirectional textures, starting from vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNT) ("Diverse 3D Microarchitectures Made by Capillary Forming of Carbon Nanotubes"). The resulting assemblies have a mechanical stiffness exceeding that of microfabrication polymers, and can be used as molds for the mass production of 3D polymer structures. The method is straightforward, in that it requires only standard two-dimensional patterning and thermal processing at ambient pressure. Illustration of carbon nanotube forest growth and capillary forming sequence