Method for making carbon nanotube composite structure

Abstract

A method for making a carbon nanotube composite structure includes providing a polymer substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first carbon nanotube layer including a plurality of carbon nanotubes is placed on the first surface to form a preformed structure, wherein the carbon nanotube layer and the polymer substrate are stacked with each other. The preformed structure is scanned with a laser according to a predetermined pattern. The treated preformed structure includes a first part and a second part. The first part is scanned by the laser, and the second part is not scanned by the laser. The first part includes a plurality of first carbon nanotubes, and the second part includes a plurality of second carbon nanotubes. The plurality of second carbon nanotubes is removed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for making a carbon nanotube composite structure, the method comprising:
 providing a polymer substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the polymer substrate defines a first substrate part and a second substrate part; 
 placing a first carbon nanotube layer on the first surface, wherein the first carbon nanotube layer defines a first layer part comprising a plurality of first carbon nanotubes and a second layer part comprising a plurality of second carbon nanotubes, the first layer part is located on the first substrate part, and the second layer part is located on the second substrate part; 
 irradiating only the first layer part by a laser to melt the first substrate part, so that the first substrate part is bonded with the plurality of first carbon nanotubes; and 
 removing the plurality of second carbon nanotubes. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer substrate and the carbon nanotube layer are stacked with each other before irradiating only the first layer part by the laser. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a gap is defined between two adjacent first carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein in process of irradiating only the first layer part by the laser, the first substrate part is melted and penetrates into the gap to surround each of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein in process of irradiating only the first layer part by the laser, the plurality of first carbon nanotubes absorbs the laser and generates heat energy to heat the first substrate part, so that the first substrate part is melted and bonded with the plurality of first carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein in process of irradiating only the first layer part by the laser, the second substrate part is not melted, and is not bonded with the plurality of second carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first carbon nanotubes and the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are parallel to the first surface. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiating only the first layer part by the laser comprises irradiating the first layer part from side of the first layer part, so that the first layer part is directly irradiated by the laser. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiating only the first layer part by the laser comprises irradiating the first layer part from side of the first substrate part, so that the laser passes through the first substrate part to irradiate the first layer part, and a material of the first substrate part is transparent. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiating only the first layer part by the laser is performed in an air environment, and a melting point of the polymer substrate is less than a melting point of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiating only the first layer part by the laser is performed in a vacuum environment, and a vacuum value is in a range from about 10 −6  Pa to about 10 −2  Pa. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second carbon nanotubes is removed by etching. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second carbon nanotubes is removed by a tape. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing a second carbon nanotube layer on the second surface, and irradiating the second carbon nanotube layer with the laser. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locating a reflective layer on the second surface, and a material of the reflective layer is selected from a group consisting of metal oxides, metal salts, and ceramics. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removing the plurality of second carbon nanotubes comprises:
 placing a base on the second substrate part, wherein a material of the base is a polymer having a viscosity so that the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are bonded on the base; 
 removing the base from the second substrate part, wherein the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are bonded on the base and removed from the second substrate part together with the base. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of second carbon nanotubes on the base is irradiated by the laser after removing the base from the second substrate part. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of second carbon nanotubes absorbs the laser and generates a heat energy to heat the base, and the base is melted and surround each of the plurality of second carbon nanotubes.