Bent carbon nanotubes and methods of production

Abstract

A method of producing carbon nanotubes includes directing a flow of a gas over a substrate to provide growth of at least one carbon nanotube in a carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate; applying an electric field to the carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate after the at least one carbon nanotube has begun to grow in the carbon-nanotube-growth region, the electric field being substantially in a first direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region; and changing the electric field at a preselected time to be substantially in a second direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region during growth of the at least one carbon nanotube. The second direction is different from the first direction resulting in a bend substantially at a selected position of the at least one carbon nanotube, the method of producing carbon nanotubes providing the production of the at least one carbon nanotube having at least one bend substantially at a selected position along the at least one carbon nanotube.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A plurality of carbon nanotubes produced according to a method comprising:
 directing a flow of a gas over a substrate to provide growth of at least one carbon nanotube in a carbon-nanotube-growth region of said substrate;   applying an electric field to said carbon-nanotube-growth region of said substrate after said at least one carbon nanotube has begun to grow in said carbon-nanotube-growth region, said electric field being substantially in a first direction in said carbon-nanotube-growth region; and   changing said electric field at a preselected time to be substantially in a second direction in said carbon-nanotube-growth region during growth of said at least one carbon nanotube, wherein said second direction is different from said first direction resulting in a bend substantially at a selected position of said at least one carbon nanotube, said method of producing carbon nanotubes providing the production of said at least one carbon nanotube having at least one bend substantially at a selected position along said at least one carbon nanotube.   
     
     
         18 . A carbon nanotube having at least first and second bends with a substantially unbent length reserved there between,
 wherein said carbon nanotube exhibits quantized energy levels for electrons traveling between said first and second bends which provide potential barriers to provide a degree of confinement of the electrons between the first and second bends,   wherein transitions between said quantized energy levels are effected by absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         19 . A carbon nanotube according to  claim 18 , wherein said carbon nanotubes provide narrow band absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation for a wavelength in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         20 . A carbon nanotube according to  claim 18 , wherein said carbon nanotubes provide narrow band absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation for a wavelength in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         21 . A carbon nanotube according to  claim 18 , wherein said carbon nanotubes provide narrow band absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation for a wavelength in radio frequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         22 . A device for the production of carbon nanotubes, comprising:
 a substrate;   a first electrode formed on the substrate, said first electrode having a first end adapted to be connected to a voltage source and a second end free of an electrical connection and arranged proximate a carbon-nanotube-growth region;   a second electrode formed on the substrate, said second electrode having a first end adapted to be connected to a voltage source and a second end free of an electrical connection and arranged proximate said carbon-nanotube-growth region; and   a third electrode formed on the substrate, said third electrode having a first end adapted to be connected to a voltage source and a second end free of an electrical connection and arranged proximate said carbon-nanotube-growth region,   wherein said first, second and third electrodes are suitable to provide an electric field having a first direction in said carbon-nanotube-growth region and to change said electric field to have a second direction in said carbon-nanotube-growth region.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled)