Abstract: A method of making an array of vertically-aligned CNT bundles includes dispersing iron oxide nanoparticles in a solvent to form a suspension. The method further includes dipping a TiN-coated substrate in the suspension and removing to form a suspension-coated substrate. The method also involves drying the suspension-coated substrate by evaporating the solvent from the suspension-coated substrate to form a first sample. Furthermore, the method includes treating the first sample by microwave plasma under hydrogen flow at 500 degrees centigrade (° C.) to 700° C. to form a pre-treated sample followed by treating the pre-treated sample by microwave plasma under methane flow at 500° C. to 700° C. to form the vertically-aligned carbon nanotube bundles.

Abstract: The present invention is a near-field microwave sensing modality that uses a single probe combined with a classification algorithm to help in detecting the presence of tumors in the human female breast. The concept employs a near-field resonant probe with an ultra-narrow frequency response. The resonant probe is highly sensitive to the changes in the electromagnetic properties of the breast tissues such that the presence of the tumor is gauged by determining the changes in the magnitude and phase response of the sensor's reflection coefficient. A key feature of our proposed detection concept is the simultaneous sensing of tissue property changes to the two female breasts since the right and left healthy breasts are morphologically and materially identical. Once the probe response is recorded for both breasts, the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) method is employed to emphasize the difference in the probe responses.