Carbon nanotube film

Abstract

A carbon nanotube film includes a number of carbon nanotube linear units and a number of carbon nanotube groups. The carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other and extend along a first direction. The carbon nanotube groups are combined with the carbon nanotube linear units by van der Waals force on a second direction. The second direction is intercrossed with the first direction. The carbon nanotube groups between adjacent carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other in the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carbon nanotube film, comprising:
 a plurality of carbon nanotube linear units spaced from each other and substantially extending along a first direction; and   a plurality of carbon nanotube groups combined with the plurality of carbon nanotube linear units by van der Waals force in a second direction intercrossing with the first direction, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube groups between adjacent carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other in the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube linear units are substantially parallel to each other in the second direction and form a plurality of first conductive paths along the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube groups are interlacedly arranged in the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube groups are arranged in columns in the second direction. 
     
     
         5 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube groups combined with the plurality of carbon nanotube linear units form a plurality of second conductive paths in the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , being a free-standing structure. 
     
     
         7 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , wherein each carbon nanotube linear unit comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially joined end-to-end by van der Waals force and oriented along the first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , wherein an effective diameter of each carbon nanotube linear unit is greater than or equal to 0.1 micrometers, and less than or equal to 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         9 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , wherein each carbon nanotube group comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially extending along the first direction. 
     
     
         10 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 1 , wherein each carbon nanotube group comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes intercrossed with each other to form a net structure. 
     
     
         11 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes in each carbon nanotube group substantially extend along a direction defining an angle with the first direction larger than or equal to 45 degrees, and less than or equal to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes in each carbon nanotube group substantially extend along a direction defining an angle with the first direction, and the angle is less than or equal to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . A carbon nanotube film, comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes defining a plurality of apertures, the plurality of carbon nanotubes being made into a plurality of carbon nanotube linear units and a plurality of carbon nanotube groups, and a surface area ratio of the plurality of carbon nanotubes to the plurality of apertures is less than or equal to 1:19. 
     
     
         14 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 13 , wherein the surface area ratio of the plurality of carbon nanotubes to the plurality of apertures is less than or equal to 1:49. 
     
     
         15 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube linear units are combined with the plurality of carbon nanotube groups by van der Waals force so that the carbon nanotube film is a free-standing structure. 
     
     
         16 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other. 
     
     
         17 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of carbon linear units are separated from each other in a second direction and extend substantially along a first direction intercrossed with the second direction, and the plurality of carbon linear units substantially form a plurality of conductive paths in the first direction. 
     
     
         18 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube groups between adjacent carbon nanotube linear units are separated from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube groups are arranged in columns and rows, and the plurality of carbon nanotube groups combined with the plurality of carbon nanotube linear units in a second direction form a plurality of a second conductive paths, and the second direction is intercrossed with an extending direction of each carbon nanotube linear unit. 
     
     
         20 . The carbon nanotube film of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotube groups are interlacedly arranged in a second direction, and the second direction is intercrossed with an extending direction of each carbon nanotube linear unit.