Fabrication of three-dimensional ZnO-Carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrids using self-assembled CNT micropatterns as framework

Large-scale pyramid-like micropatterns were prepared via capillarity-dfiven self-assembly during the evaporation of water from aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) wrapped by a pqlyelectrolyte, poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). PSS wrapping results in providing negative charges on every tube, which makes it possible to balance the capillary force and to form uniformed pyramid-like architecture. By using such regular three-dimensional CNT patterns as an idea candidate for the framework/template, two complex architectures consisting of ZnO nanorods and CNT patterns were successfully fabricated, which show revisable surface wettability properties.