High Rate Electric Field Driven Nanoelement Assembly on an Insulated Surface

A method for assembling nanoelements, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a patterned substrate comprising a base layer of insulating material, a metal conductive layer deposited onto the base layer, an insulating layer deposited onto the conductive layer, and a patterned layer deposited onto the insulating layer, wherein the patterned layer is interrupted according to a pattern that defines one or more voids in the patterned layer, wherein the patterned layer forms the walls of the voids and the insulating layer forms the bottom of the voids;
• (b) submerging at least a portion of the substrate in a liquid suspension of nanoelements, the liquid suspension disposed within a container and having a surface interfacing with a gaseous medium;
• and
• (c) pulling the substrate from the liquid suspension through the surface thereof while applying an electrical potential between the conductive layer of the substrate and a counter electrode in the suspension;
• whereby nanoelements from the suspension are assembled in the voids of the patterned substrate.