Clusters of bundled nanorods in nanocarpet effect

A simple model based on the balance between mechanical bending and capillary interaction is proposed to understand the bundling of nanorods in nanocarpet effect. The cluster energy minimization reveals that the cluster size is closely related to the nanorod aspect ratio, diameter, density, Young's modulus, as well as the surface tension of the liquid. The experimental result on the cluster size versus the nanorod height is consistent with the prediction of the model. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.