Electrodynamic Arrays Having Nanomaterial Electrodes

Abstract

A method of making an electrodynamic array of conductive nanomaterial electrodes calls for a liquid solution containing nanomaterials to be deposited as an array of conductive electrodes on a substrate, including rigid or flexible substrates such as fabrics, and opaque or transparent substrates. The nanomaterial electrodes may also be grown in situ. The nanomaterials may include carbon nanomaterials, other organic or inorganic nanomaterials or mixtures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making an electrodynamic array, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a substrate;   (b) depositing a first and second electrode pattern onto a surface of said substrate, wherein the first electrode pattern comprises a first set of electrodes printed onto the substrate using ink comprising conductive nanomaterials, and the second electrode pattern comprises a second set of electrodes printed onto the substrate using ink comprising conductive nanomaterials, and wherein the second set of electrodes are interleaved with the first set of electrodes on the substrate; and   (c) connecting the first and second electrode patterns to an alternating current source, wherein alternating current provided to the first electrode pattern by the alternating current source is out of phase with alternating current provided to the second electrode pattern by the alternating current source such that dust is repelled from the surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said depositing of electrodes of step (b) is by printing using a nanomaterials-based liquid solution. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said depositing of electrodes of step (b) is by growing in situ. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said depositing of electrodes of step (b) is repeated until a desired degree of resistivity of said plurality of electrodes is achieved. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said conductive nanomaterials comprise carbon nanomaterials. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said carbon nanomaterials are selected from the group consisting of single, double and multi-wall carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, graphitic sheets, graphenes, graphite, fullerenes and a combination of any of the preceding. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nanomaterials are selected from the group consisting of organic and inorganic nanomaterials, including metal nanostructures, metal oxide nanostructures, nanocrystals, polymeric nanostructures, DNA, RNA, proteins, quantum dot crystals and any combination of the preceding. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a rigid substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a flexible substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible substrate is a transparent material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible substrate is an opaque material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible substrate is a fabric material.