Carbon nanotube structure

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure includes a carbon nanotube array, a carbon nanotube layer located on one side of the carbon nanotube array, and a carbon nanotube cluster between the carbon nanotube array and the carbon nanotube layer. The carbon nanotube array includes a number of first carbon nanotubes that are parallel with each other. The carbon nanotube layer includes a number of second carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotube cluster includes a plurality of third carbon nanotubes that are entangled around both the plurality of first carbon nanotubes and the plurality of second carbon nanotubes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carbon nanotube structure, comprising:
 a carbon nanotube array, wherein the carbon nanotube array comprises a plurality of first carbon nanotubes that are substantially parallel to each other;   a carbon nanotube layer located on one side of the carbon nanotube array, wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a plurality of second carbon nanotubes in contact with a first portion of each of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes; and   a plurality of third carbon nanotubes entangled and located between the carbon nanotube layer and the carbon nanotube array.   
     
     
         2 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer is free-standing structure. 
     
     
         3 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a drawn carbon nanotube film, and the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are arranged substantially along the same direction. 
     
     
         4 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are successive and joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 3 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises two stacked drawn carbon nanotube films, and an angle between the arranged directions of the plurality of second carbon nanotubes in two adjacent drawn carbon nanotube films is about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a flocculated carbon nanotube film, the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are entangled with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a pressed carbon nanotube film, and an angle between a primary alignment direction of the plurality of second carbon nanotubes and a surface of the pressed carbon nanotube film is in a range of about 0 degrees to approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a plurality of untwisted carbon nanotube wires, the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are substantially oriented along a length direction of each of the plurality of untwisted carbon nanotube wires. 
     
     
         9 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a plurality of twisted carbon nanotube wires, the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are substantially helically oriented around an axial direction of each of the plurality of twisted carbon nanotube wires. 
     
     
         10 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second carbon nanotubes extend substantially along a direction that is parallel to a surface of the carbon nanotube layer and perpendicular to the plurality of first carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         11 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube layer defines a plurality of apertures, and a duty ratio of the carbon nanotube layer is in a range from about 1:4 to about 4:1. 
     
     
         12 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of third carbon nanotubes and the first portions of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes are entangled with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of third carbon nanotubes and the first portions of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes extend around the plurality of second carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of third carbon nanotubes are entangled around both the plurality of first carbon nanotubes and the plurality of second carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         15 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of third carbon nanotubes has a first part entangled around the plurality of first carbon nanotubes and a second part entangled around the plurality of second carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         16 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first portions of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes are entangled around the plurality of second carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         17 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube array is a patterned structure. 
     
     
         18 . A carbon nanotube structure, comprising:
 a carbon nanotube layer, wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a plurality of first carbon nanotubes extending substantially along a direction parallel to a surface of the carbon nanotube layer;   a carbon nanotube array located on and in contact with the surface of the carbon nanotube layer, wherein the carbon nanotube array comprises a plurality of second carbon nanotubes that are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the surface of the carbon nanotube layer; and   a carbon nanotube cluster located between the carbon nanotube layer and the carbon nanotube array, wherein the carbon nanotube cluster comprises a plurality of third carbon nanotubes that are entangled around both the plurality of first carbon nanotubes and the plurality of second carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         19 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 18 , wherein the carbon nanotube array is a patterned structure. 
     
     
         20 . The carbon nanotube structure of  claim 18 , wherein a first portion of each of the plurality of second carbon nanotubes is entangled around one of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes.