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Introduction

Due to their unique 1-D structure and the consequent mechanical and transport properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a wide spectrum of potential applications ranging from single nanotube transistors to aerospace composites. Aligned CNTs are synthesized from a catalyst seed layer, where every catalyst particle yields a CNT. During the early stage of growth the CNTs assemble and self-support growth in a direction normal to the substrate which resembles a forest. The CNTs occupy a low volume in the forest (~2-5%) and the rest of the volume is air. Thus, in order to enhance the bulk properties of the aligned CNT film, the areal density of the CNTs must increase by aggregating the CNTs into denser bundles. Capillary forces proved to be an effective mean in applying transverse forces on nanoscale building blocks, thus driving them to self-assemble.

The phenomenon of densification has been observed experimentally where the surface tension of liquid was utilized to bring together nanotubes in a forest together to achieve imporved bulk properties. To understand the process better and what experimentally parameters can affect the result of densification, this simulation project was conceived.