Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Functional Optimization Of Carbon Nanotubes, Taylor Davis, Sr. Brian Iverson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objective of this project was to create, characterize, and optimize carbon nanotube (CNT) films as a surface functionalization strategy through modifying the growth, infiltration, and patterning during fabrication.

Carbon nanotubes have drawn attention in various disciplines in the scientific community because of their incredible strength, hardness, wettability (hydrophobicity), as well as their kinetic and electrical properties. At BYU specifically, they are being used in diverse applications including fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces and interdigitated electrode biosensors.

Carbon nanotubes can be delicate with a diameter of only a few nanometers when grown. However, the process of carbon infiltration can be used …