Abstract: Methods of forming films of aligned elongated nanoparticles, films made using the methods, and electronic devices, such as transistors, that incorporate the films are provided. In the methods, elongated nanoparticles floating at the surface of a liquid film are deposited onto a liquid film-adsorbing surface region of a substrate as the liquid film dissipates from the surface. The alignment and deposition of the elongated nanoparticles occurs along a contact line that is defined by the liquid film, the substrate, and either an immiscible liquid suspension of the elongated nanoparticles or air. As the liquid film dissipates, the contact line recedes across the liquid film-adsorbing surface region and elongated nanoparticles pinned at the contact line are deposited onto the surface in the form of a nanoparticle film.

Abstract: Methods of transferring nanostructures from a first substrate to another substrate using a copolymer polymerized from one or more non-crosslinking monomers and one or more comonomers bearing crosslinkable groups as a transfer medium are provided. Relative to a poly(methyl methacrylate) homopolymer, the crosslinkable copolymers bond more strongly to the first substrate and, as a result, are able to transfer even very narrow nanostructures between substrates with high transfer yields.

Abstract: Methods of sorting carbon nanotubes and methods of forming films of aligned carbon nanotubes using rod-coil copolymers are provided. The rod-coil copolymers have a tri-block or di-block architecture and include a conjugated polymer segment (“rod” segment) that binds the copolymer to the carbon nanotubes via pi-pi interactions and a non-conjugated polymer segment (“coil” segment) that aids with the sorting and dispersion of the carbon nanotubes in solution and/or controls the spacing of the carbon nanotubes in films made therefrom.

Abstract: Methods of forming films of aligned carbon nanotubes on a substrate surface are provided. The films are deposited from carbon nanotubes that have been concentrated and confined at a two-dimensional liquid/liquid interface. The liquid/liquid interface is formed by a dispersion of organic material-coated carbon nanotubes that flows over the surface of an immiscible liquid within a flow channel. Within the interface, the carbon nanotubes self-organize via liquid crystal phenomena and globally align along the liquid flow direction. By translating the interface across the substrate, large-area, wafer-scale films of aligned carbon nanotubes can be deposited on the surface of the substrate in a continuous and scalable process.

Abstract: Methods for the bottom-up growth of graphene nanoribbons are provided. The methods utilize small aromatic molecular seeds to initiate the anisotropic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene nanoribbons having low size polydispersities on the surface of a growth substrate. The aromatic molecular seeds include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), functionalized derivatives of PAHs, heterocyclic aromatic molecules, and metal complexes of heterocyclic aromatic molecules.

Abstract: Methods of forming films of aligned carbon nanotubes on a substrate surface are provided. The films are deposited from carbon nanotubes that have been concentrated and confined at a two-dimensional liquid/liquid interface. The liquid/liquid interface is formed by a dispersion of organic material-coated carbon nanotubes that flows over the surface of an immiscible liquid within a flow channel. Within the interface, the carbon nanotubes self-organize via liquid crystal phenomena and globally align along the liquid flow direction. By translating the interface across the substrate, large-area, wafer-scale films of aligned carbon nanotubes can be deposited on the surface of the substrate in a continuous and scalable process.

Abstract: Methods for the bottom-up growth of graphene nanoribbons are provided. The methods utilize small aromatic molecular seeds to initiate the anisotropic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene nanoribbons having low size polydispersities on the surface of a growth substrate. The aromatic molecular seeds include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), functionalized derivatives of PAHs, heterocyclic aromatic molecules, and metal complexes of heterocyclic aromatic molecules.

Abstract: Methods of transferring nanostructures from a first substrate to another substrate using a copolymer polymerized from one or more non-crosslinking monomers and one or more comonomers bearing crosslinkable groups as a transfer medium are provided. Relative to a poly(methyl methacrylate) homopolymer, the crosslinkable copolymers bond more strongly to the first substrate and, as a result, are able to transfer even very narrow nanostructures between substrates with high transfer yields.

Abstract: Methods for forming films of aligned carbon nanotubes are provided. Also provided are the films formed by the methods and electronic devices that incorporate the films as active layers. The films are formed by flowing a suspension of carbon nanotubes over a substrate surface that is chemically and topographically patterned. The methods provide a rapid and scalable means of forming films of densely packed and aligned carbon nanotubes over large surface areas.

Abstract: Methods for forming carbon nanotube arrays are provided. Also provided are the arrays formed by the methods and electronic devices that incorporate the array as active layers. The arrays are formed by flowing a fluid suspension of carbon nanotubes through a confined channel under conditions that create a velocity gradient across the flowing suspension.

Abstract: Polymers having pendant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups covalently bound to the polymer backbone via thioester bonds are provided. The PAH groups are covalently bound to the backbone of the polymer by a molecular linker that includes a thioester bond. Also provided are dispersions of polymer-coated carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube films formed from the dispersions.

Abstract: Polymers having pendant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups covalently bound to the polymer backbone via thioester bonds are provided. The PAH groups are covalently bound to the backbone of the polymer by a molecular linker that includes a thioester bond. Also provided are dispersions of polymer-coated carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube films formed from the dispersions.

Abstract: Methods of producing layers of patterned graphene with smooth edges are provided. The methods comprise the steps of fabricating a layer of crystalline graphene on a surface, wherein the layer of crystalline graphene has a crystallographically disordered edge, and decreasing the crystallographic disorder of the edge of the layer of crystalline graphene by heating the layer of crystalline graphene on the surface at an elevated temperature in a catalytic environment comprising carbon-containing molecules.

Abstract: Methods for forming carbon nanotube arrays are provided. Also provided are the arrays formed by the methods and electronic devices that incorporate the array as active layers. The arrays are formed by flowing a fluid suspension of carbon nanotubes through a confined channel under conditions that create a velocity gradient across the flowing suspension.

Abstract: High density films of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes having a high degree of nanotube alignment are provided. Also provided are methods of making the films and field effect transistors (FETs) that incorporate the films as conducting channel materials. The single-walled carbon nanotubes are deposited from a thin layer of organic solvent containing solubilized single-walled carbon nanotubes that is spread over the surface of an aqueous medium, inducing evaporative self-assembly upon contacting a solid substrate.

Abstract: Conjugated polymers composed of bi-pyridine units linked to 9,9-dialkyl fluorenyl-2,7-diyl units via imine linkages along the polymer backbone are provided. Also provided are semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes coated with the conjugated polymers and methods of sorting and separating s-SWCNTs from a sample comprising a mixture of s-SWCNTs and metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes using the conjugated polymers.

Abstract: Conjugated polymers composed of bi-pyridine units linked to 9,9-dialkyl fluorenyl-2,7-diyl units via imine linkages along the polymer backbone are provided. Also provided are semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes coated with the conjugated polymers and methods of sorting and separating s-SWCNTs from a sample comprising a mixture of s-SWCNTs and metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes using the conjugated polymers.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of directed self-assembly (DSA) on atomic layer chemical patterns and related compositions. The atomic layer chemical patterns may be formed from two-dimensional materials such as graphene. The atomic layer chemical patterns provide high resolution, low defect directed self-assembly. For example, DSA on a graphene pattern can be used achieve ten times the resolution of DSA that is achievable on a three-dimensional pattern such as a polymer brush. Assembly of block copolymers on the atomic layer chemical patterns may also facilitate subsequent etch, as the atomic layer chemical patterns are easier to etch than conventional pattern materials.

Abstract: High density films of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes having a high degree of nanotube alignment are provided. Also provided are methods of making the films and field effect transistors (FETs) that incorporate the films as conducting channel materials. The single-walled carbon nanotubes are deposited from a thin layer of organic solvent containing solubilized single-walled carbon nanotubes that is spread over the surface of an aqueous medium, inducing evaporative self-assembly upon contacting a solid substrate.

Abstract: High density films of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes having a high degree of nanotube alignment are provided. Also provided are methods of making the films and field effect transistors (FETs) that incorporate the films as conducting channel materials. The single-walled carbon nanotubes are deposited from a thin layer of organic solvent containing solubilized single-walled carbon nanotubes that is spread over the surface of an aqueous medium, inducing evaporative self-assembly upon contacting a solid substrate.