Multidimensional manipulation of carbon nanotube bundles with optical tweezers

Abstract

Optical manipulation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aqueous solution was performed using a linearly polarized infrared tweezers system. Vertical and horizontal manipulation of single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs, MWNTs) was carried out by changing the size of the CNTs and the trapping position. Rotation of MWNT bundles was confirmed using a circular polarized infrared optical tweezers system. Patterning of dots and letters with CNTs was successfully carried out on glass substrates.