Method for making transmission electron microscope micro-grid

Abstract

A method for making a transmission electron microscope (TEM) micro-grid includes the following steps. A carbon nanotube film and a metallic grid are provided. The carbon nantoube film is laid on the metallic gird. The carbon nanotube film with the metallic gird is treated with an organic solvent. Wherein, the carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotube bundles substantially arranged at the same direction.

1 . A method for making a transmission electron microscope micro-grid, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a carbon nanotube film and a metallic grid;   (b) laying the carbon nanotube film on the metallic grid; and   (c) treating the carbon nanotube film on the metallic with an organic solvent.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises the steps of: (a 1 ) providing an array of carbon nantoubes; and (a 2 ) drawing the carbon nanotube film from the array of carbon nantoubes. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the array of carbon nanotubes is a super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes, and the super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes is made by the steps of:
 (a 11 ) providing a substantially flat and smooth substrate;   (a 12 ) forming a catalyst layer on the substrate;   (a 13 ) annealing the substrate with the catalyst layer in air at a temperature in an approximate range from 700° C. to 900° C. for about 30 to 90 minutes;   (a 14 ) heating the substrate with the catalyst layer at a temperature in an approximate range from 500° C. to 740° C. in a furnace with a protective gas therein; and   (a 15 ) supplying a carbon source gas to the furnace for about 5 to 30 minutes.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a material of the metallic grid comprises copper or nickel. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein step (a 2 ) further comprises:
 (a 21 ) selecting a plurality of carbon nanotube segments having a predetermined width from the array of carbon nanotubes; and   (a 22 ) pulling the plurality of carbon nanotube segments at a uniform speed.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the carbon nanotube film comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially parallel to a pulling direction. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises dropping the organic solvent from a dropper to an entire surface of the carbon nanotube film to make a compact structure between the carbon nanotube film and the metallic grid. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises immersing the metallic grid with the carbon nanotube film thereon into a container having the organic solvent therein, to make a compact structure between the carbon nanotube film and the metallic grid. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent comprises of a material that is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol, acetone, dichloroethane, and chloroform. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of removing extra portions of the carbon nanotube film on edges of the metallic grid. 
     
     
         11 . A method for making a transmission electron microscope micro-grid, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of carbon nanotube films and a metallic grid;   (b) laying the plurality of carbon nanotube films on the metallic grid; and   (c) treating the plurality of carbon nanotube films on the metallic grid with an organic solvent.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of carbon nanotube films comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially arranged along an aligned direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube films laid one after another to form a multi-layer carbon nanotube film structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube films are stacked to form a microporous structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein step (c) further comprises dropping the organic solvent from a dropper to an entire surface of the plurality of carbon nanotube films. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein step (c) is further comprises immersing the metallic grid with the plurality of carbon nanotube films thereon into a container having the organic solvent therein. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making a transmission electron microscope micro-grid, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a first carbon nanotube film comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged along a first direction, a second carbon nanotube film comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged along a second direction, and a metallic grid;   (b) laying the first carbon nanotube film on the metallic grid;   (c) adhering the second carbon nanotube film on the first carbon nanotube film to form a stacked multi-layer carbon nanotube film; and   (d) treating the stacked multi-layer carbon nanotube film on the metallic with an organic solvent.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein in step (c) the second carbon nanotube film is adhered on the first carbon nanotube film along such that an angle between the first direction and the second direction is about 90°. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein step (d) further comprises dropping the organic solvent from a dropper to soak an entire surface of the stacked multi-layer carbon nanotube film with the organic solvent. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein step (d) further comprises immersing the metallic grid with the stacked multi-layer carbon nanotube film thereon into a container having the organic solvent therein.