Methods and apparatus for patterned deposition of nanostructure-containing materials by self-assembly and related articles

A method of fabricating a patterned carbon nanotube field emission cathode by self-assembly, the method comprising:

• forming a material comprising carbon nanotubes;
• chemically functionalizing the carbon nanotubes;
• dispersing the material comprising the functionalized carbon nanotubes in a liquid medium to form a suspension;
• forming hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on a surface of a substrate that can attract the functionalized carbon-nanotubes;
• bringing at least a portion of the substrate into contact with the suspension;
• and
• separating the substrate from the suspension, wherein the carbon nanotubes adhere to the hydrophilic region of the substrate when separated from the suspension.

An apparatus for depositing nanostructure-containing materials on a substrate, the apparatus comprising:

• means for forming a nanostructure-containing material;
• means for chemically functionalizing the nanostructure-containing material;
• means for dispersing the functionalized nanostructure-containing material in a liquid medium to form a suspension;
• means for bringing at least a portion of the substrate having a surface that can attract the functionalized nanostructure-containing material into contact with the suspension;
• and
• means for separating the substrate from the suspension, wherein the nanostructure-containing material adheres to the portion of the substrate when separated from the suspension.