Experts Use Tesla Coil For 'Teslaphoresis' To Make Carbon Nanotubes Self-Assemble Into Wires

A strong force field generated by a Tesla coil to take forward the self-assembly of carbon nanotubes into long wires, also called the "Teslaphoresis" process, is being used by scientists from Rice University. They have achieved scalable nanotube assembly.

The process uses remotely oscillating charges---both positive as well as negative---in every nanotube. It leads to their coming together into long wires.

The special Tesla coil created by the team makes for a beam-like effect, even as the nanotube wires are drawn toward the coil over long distances.

Such a unique force-field effect on matter has been noticed for the first time on such a large scale. Even Nikola Tesla, who invented the coil in 1891, was not aware of the phenomenon, say the scientists.

"Electric fields have been used to move small objects, but only over ultrashort distances," said Paul Cherukuri, a chemist from Rice University and senior author of the study. "With Teslaphoresis, we have the ability to massively scale up force fields to move matter remotely."

Such a unique system can assemble as well as power circuits harvesting energy from the field. In one experiment, the team saw nanotubes assembling into wires and forming a circuit connecting two LEDs. They absorb energy from the Tesla coil's field so that they can light up the LEDs.

The Tesla coil can create a strong force field at great distances. They can even observe the alignment and movement of carbon nanotubes that are located several feet away.

"It is such a stunning thing to watch these nanotubes come alive and stitch themselves into wires on the other side of the room," Cherukuri said.

The teams seeks to explore ways in which the solution can get integrated into numerous potential technologies, such as regenerative medicine.

"There are so many applications where one could utilize strong force fields to control the behavior of matter in both biological and artificial systems," Cherukuri said. "And even more exciting is how much fundamental physics and chemistry we are discovering as we move along. This really is just the first act in an amazing story."

The findings were published in the April 13 issue of the journal ACS Nano.