Abstract:
Nano material devices are provided. In one embodiment, a nano material device comprises a substrate, a first layer disposed on the substrate, a second layer and a third layer The first layer is configured to include a first set of electrodes at least partially parallel to each other and aligned in a first direction, and the third layer is configured to include a second set of electrodes at least partially parallel to each other and aligned in a third direction transverse to the first direction, thereby defining a plurality of intersections. The second layer is interposed between the first and third layers and configured to include an array of nano materials each element of which is configured to be disposed in each of the intersections.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to nano technologies and more particularly, nano electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    With the advent of nano technologies, various nano materials (e.g., nano particles) have become widely available in various industries. The ability to measure and manipulate materials on a nano-meter level is making it possible to recognize new nano materials with enhanced properties. In practice, nano particles are small particles that can range in size. Typically, nano particles can range from one nanometer to several hundred nanometers in diameter. The size of nano particles affords it unique mechanical, chemical, optical, transport and electrical properties. Nano particles have been found to be useful in many applications. Thus, nano particles are increasingly of great scientific interest as they can be an effective bridge between bulk materials and atomic or molecular structures. 
         [0003]    With recent developments in nano technology, nano materials are being used to make various macro electronic devices, e.g., semiconductor-based devices. The size and properties of nano particles allow them to be used on a wide variety of products including, dyes and pigments; aesthetic or functional coatings; tools for biological discovery, medical imaging, and therapeutics; magnetic-recording media; quantum dots; and even uniform and nano-size semiconductors. 
         [0004]    Typical electronic devices rely on conventional wiring technologies that use metal wiring lines or contain high impurity regions formed in a semiconductor substrate. Semiconductor-based devices have metal wiring layers that are formed on the semiconductor substrate and interconnect device elements formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. Further, portions of the semiconductor substrate that are doped with impurities may function as wiring lines within the elements formed on the surface of the semiconductor or between the elements. 
         [0005]    Although the wiring lines are made fine and minute using modern photolithographic technologies, and thus, the semiconductor-based devices are made compact, the manufacturing processes of such wiring lines require forming film and manipulating techniques that are operable in high vacuum conditions, e.g., having pressure of 10 −6 ˜10 −3  mmHg. For example, metals such as aluminum and copper should be formed on the semiconductor substrate using physical vapor deposition techniques including sputtering and evaporation. 
         [0006]    Relying on the above methods, however, it is not possible to efficiently make compact devices such as nano electronic devices. That is, despite superior mechanical, chemical or electrical properties of the nano materials, applications of such materials are limited, primarily due to a lack of suitable mechanisms for positioning such materials on a surface of a substrate or chip. Thus, it may be necessary to provide a method of aligning nano materials and providing an array of aligned nano materials to manufacture nano electronics devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Various embodiments of nano material technologies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment by way of non-limiting example, a device includes a substrate; a first layer disposed on the substrate and configured to include a first set of electrodes aligned in a first direction; a second layer disposed on the first layer and configured to include nano materials elongated in a second direction; and a third layer disposed on the second layer and configured to include a second set of electrodes aligned in a third direction. 
         [0008]    The Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of a device having nano materials in one embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  shows a detailed structure of the connection between a row of the first set of electrodes, elements of an array of nano materials and a column of the second set of electrodes in one embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a substrate in one embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a substrate and a first layer in one embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a substrate and a patterned first layer in one embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a first layer grooves in the first layer in one embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a first set of electrodes disposed in the first layer grooves in one embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a second layer disposed on the first layer in one embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a second layer grooves formed in the second layer in one embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the second layer having nano materials disposed in the second layer grooves in one embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a third layer disposed on the second layer in one embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a third layer patterned in a direction along its length in one embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of a third layer having trenches formed in the third layer in one embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of irradiating an ion beam onto the nano materials exposed through the trenches in one embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  illustrates an array of nano materials formed in the second layer in one embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of a third layer having an additional photoresist deposited on the patterned third layer of  FIG. 12  in one embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of the third layer having a flat top surface thereof in one embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  shows a perspective view of a third layer patterned in a direction along its width in one embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  shows a perspective view of a third layer having a third layer groove in one embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of a second set of electrodes disposed in the third layer groove in one embodiment; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment of a method for manufacturing a device having an array of nano materials. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the components of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a schematic view of an illustrative embodiment of a device  100  having an array of nano materials  1410 , and the connection between a row of the first set of electrodes  130 , elements of the array of nano materials  1410  and a column of the second set of electrodes  150 . The device  100  includes a substrate  110 , a first layer  120 , a first set of electrodes  130 , a second layer  140 , and a second set of electrodes  150 . The first layer  120  is disposed on the substrate  110  and incorporates the first set of electrodes  130  that extend in a first direction along a length of the first layer  20  thereon. The second layer  140  is deposited on the first layer  120  and includes the array of nano materials  1410  that maintain electric contact with the first set of electrodes  130 . For example, the array of nano materials  1410  may be aligned to extend in a second direction of the substrate (e.g., along its width) that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of the first set of electrodes  130 . The second set of electrodes  150  is disposed on the second layer  140  in such a way that the second set of electrodes  150  are electrically in contact with one or more element of the array of nano materials  1410  in the second layer  140  In some embodiments, the second set of electrodes  150  may be aligned to extend in a direction that is the same as, or similar to the second direction in which the nano materials  910  extend (e.g., along its width). 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , a structural relation between one row of the first set of electrodes  130 , elements of the array of nano materials  1410  and a column of the second set of electrodes  150  is illustrated. The first set of electrodes  130  is coupled to the second set of electrodes  150  through one element of the array of nano materials  1410 . In one embodiment, the first set of electrodes  130  is at least in part coupled to at least one element of the array of nano materials  1410 , and the second set of electrodes  150  is at least in part coupled to at least one element of the array of nano materials  1410 . For example, an electrode from the first set of electrodes  130  is electrically connected to an electrode from the second set of electrodes  150  via a segment (i.e., an element) from the array of nano materials  1410 . The array of nano materials  1410  may be configured to have an electrical contact with the first set of electrodes  150  at a lower side of the array of nano materials  1410 , and to have an electrical contact with the second set of electrodes  150  at an upper side of the array of nano materials  140 . In this way, each element in the array of nano materials  1410  in the second layer  140  may be activated one by one through selectively supplying an electric current to the selected pair among the rows of the first set of electrodes  130  (e.g., horizontal electrodes) and the columns of the second set of electrodes  150  (e.g., vertical electrodes). It is appreciated that although  FIG. 1B  shows the array of nano materials  1410  having one column of the elements, the array of nano materials  1410  may have M rows and N columns, wherein M and N are natural numbers that are equal to or greater than 1. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 2 to 19  show exemplary stages in which the array of nano materials  1410  is fabricated.  FIG. 2  illustrates a substrate  110  that is prepared in one embodiment. The substrate  110  may have a predetermined thickness depending on the scale of the device  100 . The thickness of the substrate  110  may vary from tens of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers. Depending on the application field of the device  100 , the substrate  110  may be made of silicon, glass, plastics (e.g., a polyethylene terephthalate), or the like. For instance, when the device  100  is used as a display or optical component (i.e., when it is desired to transmit light rays through the substrate  110 ), the substrate  110  may be made of and/or include transparent (or semi-transparent) materials including, but not limited to, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO) or its equivalents. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a substrate  110  and a first layer  120  disposed on the substrate  110  in one embodiment. The first layer  120  may be made of or include photoresists that are deposited on the substrate  110 . The photoresists may be of predetermined thickness. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first layer  120  is patterned to define first layer grooves  510  which extend along a length of the first layer  120  thereon. In one embodiment, the photoresists of the first layer  120  may be patterned or removed by various lithographic methods that are generally well known to those of ordinary skill in the semiconductor processing, MEMS processing, and nano technology fields. For example, a photolithography technique (or other equivalent method) may be used to pattern the photoresists of the first layer  120 , thereby selectively removing parts of the photoresist in the first layer  120  to form the first layer grooves  510  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The photolithography technique uses light to transfer a geometric pattern from a photomask (not shown) to the photoresist of the first layer  120  on the substrate  110 . For example, the photoresists of the first layer  120  may be used at wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum or shorter (e.g., &lt;400 nm). As a result of the photolithography process, multiple first layer grooves  510  are formed on the first layer  120 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The first layer grooves  510  formed in the first layer  120  may be disposed in a uniform manner. Alternatively, the first layer grooves  510  may be disposed in varying directions. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a first set of electrodes  130  disposed in the first layer grooves  510  of the first layer  120  is illustrated. In one embodiment, a conductive material is deposited into the patterned first layer grooves  510  so as to form a first set of multiple electrodes  130 . The first set of electrodes  130  may be made of or include any form of conductive material. Depending on the application field of the device  100 , the electrodes  130  may be made of or include transparent or semi-transparent materials that allow light rays to be transmitted through the first set of electrodes  130 . For example, the first set of electrodes  130  may be made of a transparent conductive material including, but not limited to, indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO). In another embodiment, the first set of electrodes  130  may be made of an opaque conductive material such as, e.g., magnesium, aluminum, indium, silver-magnesium or the like. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , a second layer  140  is disposed on the first layer  120  to thereby cover the first set of electrodes  130  in the first layer  120 . In one embodiment, the second layer  140  may be made of or include photoresists that are deposited on the first layer  120 . The photoresists may be of a predetermined thickness. Moreover, the photoresists of the second layer  140  may be the same as, similar to, or different from the materials used for the photoresists of the first layer  120 . The photoresists of the second layer  140  may be used at wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum or shorter (e.g., &lt;400 nm). 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a second layer grooves  810  formed in the second layer  140 . In one embodiment, the second layer grooves  810  may extend along its width. Moreover, the photoresists may be patterned or removed by various lithographic methods that are generally well known to those of ordinary skill in the semiconductor processing, MEMS processing, and nano technology fields. For example, the photolithography technique may be used to form the second layer grooves  810  in the photoresists of the second layer  140 . The photolithography removes the patterned portion of the second layer  140  until the second layer grooves  810  reaches the top surfaces of the first set of electrodes  130  disposed in the first layer  120 . The second layer grooves  810  extend in a direction different from that of the first set of electrodes  130 . In one embodiment, the second layer grooves  810  may elongate in a direction (e.g., along its width) perpendicular to the direction (e.g., along its length) of the first layer grooves  510 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the second layer  140  having nano materials  910  disposed in the second layer grooves  810 . In one embodiment, the nano materials  910  are absorbed, deposited or disposed into the second layer grooves  810 . For example, a suspension or mixture of nano materials  910  is supplied on top of the photoresist of the second layer grooves  810 . Such nano materials  910  may be formed to have shapes and sizes that match those of the second layer grooves  810 . In this way, the nano materials  910  are captured into the second layer grooves  810 . The nano materials  910  may define various shapes, examples of which may include, but are not limited to, elongated shapes such as nano-tubes and nano wire, round beads such as quantum dots, and the like. The nano materials  910  may also be made of or include carbon, silver, gold, and other prior art substances or compounds. The nano materials  910  may have aspect ratios that fall in the range of, e.g., greater than 20, greater than 50, greater than 100, greater than 1,000, greater than 10,000, or the like. In one embodiment, the second layer grooves  810  formed in the second layer  140  may be disposed in a uniform manner. Alternatively, the second layer grooves  810  may be disposed in varying directions. 
         [0039]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a third layer  1010  disposed on the second layer  140 . In one embodiment, the third layer  1010  may be made of or include photoresists that are deposited on the second layer  140 , thereby trapping the nano materials  910  in the second layer grooves  810 . The photoresists may be of a predetermined thickness. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the photoresist of the third layer  1010  is patterned to define trenches  1210 . In one embodiment, the trenches  1210  in a direction along its length over nano materials  910  elongated in a direction along its width. In some embodiments, a photolithography technique (or other equivalent method) may be used to pattern the photoresists of the third layer  1010  to selectively remove parts of the photoresist of the third layer  1010  to form the trenches  1210 . The photolithography removes the patterned portion of the trenches  1210  until the trenches  1210  reaches the top surfaces of the nano materials  910  disposed in the second layer grooves  810 . In this way, the photoresists of the third layer  1010  are patterned by using photolithography and the patterned photoresists are used as a mask to selectively expose the nano materials  910  on the second layer  140 . The photoresists of the third layer  1010  may be the same as, similar to, or different the photoresists of the first layer  120 . The photoresists of the third layer  1010  may be used at wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum or shorter (e.g., &lt;400 nm). The trenches  1210  may be uniformly disposed. Alternatively, the third layer grooves  1110  may be disposed in varying directions. In one embodiment, the trenches  1210  may extend in parallel with the direction of the first layer grooves  510  (i.e., along the length of the first layer grooves  510 ). Alternatively, the trenches  1210  may extend in a direction different from the first layer grooves  510 , e.g., a diagonal direction. 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, exposed portions of the nano materials  910  may be removed from the device  100  through various means. For instance,  FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of irradiating ion beams  1310  onto the nano materials  910  exposed through the trenches  1210  to remove the exposed portions of the nano materials  910 . The ion beams  1310  are irradiated through the trenches  1210  such that the exposed portions of the nano materials  910  in the second layer  140  may be burnt or removed. The ion beams  1310  may be irradiated from a beam source (not shown) towards the surface of the third layer  1010 . The ion beam source may include mercury vapor thrusters, duoplasmatron, and the like. The device  100  may be placed in a vacuum chamber and be exposed to the ion beam  1310 , thereby abrading away the areas not covered by the photoresists. As a result, the nano materials  910  which originally had the elongated shapes (as shown in  FIG. 9 ) are divided into multiple segments, thereby forming an array of nano materials  1410  as exemplified in  FIG. 14 . In this way, the array of nano materials  1410  may be formed so that the lower surface of the array of nano materials  1410  are in contact with the first set of electrodes  130  disposed in the first layer  120 . 
         [0041]    In another embodiment,  FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of a third layer  1010  having an additional photoresist deposited on the trenches  1210 . An additional layer of photoresist may be deposited on top of the previously-deposited and patterned third layer  1010  of  FIG. 12  to cover the trenches  1210 . The resulting uneven layer of photoresist of the third layer  1010  is processed to form a flat top surface, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The additional layer of the photoresist may be polished by using a metallography polish to create a flat, defect-free surface. Silicon based polishing pads or diamond solutions can also be used in the polishing process to facilitate the process. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 17 to 19 , a perspective view of the additionally-deposited third layer  1010  having a second set of electrodes  150  extending in a direction different from that of the first set of electrodes  130  is shown. As shown in  FIG. 17 , the additionally-deposited third layer  1010  is patterned. In certain embodiments, the photoresists of the third layer  1010  are patterned by a lithography method to define multiple parallel third layer grooves  1810  extending in a direction along its width over the array of nano materials  1410 . For example, a photolithography technique (or other equivalent method) may be used to pattern the third layer  1010  to selectively remove parts of the photoresist the third layer  1010 .  FIG. 18  shows multiple third layer grooves  1810  extending in a direction along its width that are formed in the third layer  1010  through photolithography. The photolithography is performed until each segmented nano material (i.e., each element of the array of nano material  1410 ) is exposed through the third layer grooves  180 O. A conductive material is deposited into the patterned third layer grooves  1810  and forms a second set of multiple electrodes  150  as shown in  FIG. 19 . The second set of electrodes  150  are in contact with the array of nano materials  1410  disposed under the second set of electrodes  150 . Similar to the first set of electrodes  130 , the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of or include any conductive material. If some cases, the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of or include transparent or semi-transparent materials which allows light rays to be transmitted through the second set of electrodes  150 . For example, the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of a transparent conductive material including, but not limited to, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO) and the like. Alternatively the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of an opaque conductive material including magnesium, aluminum, indium, silver-magnesium and the like. In this way, multiple sets of electrodes (i.e., the first and the second sets of electrodes  130  and  150 ) are located above and below the array of nano materials  1410  respectively, thereby making the device  100  into a so-called sandwich-type nano matrix device, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, further photolithography may be performed exposing the second set of electrodes  150  and thereby forming them into particular patterns. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the uppermost photoresist in the third layer  1010  may be removed to expose the second set of electrodes  150 . The photoresist of the second layer  140  may also be removed (not included in the figures) thereby exposing the first set of electrodes  130 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 20  is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment of a method for manufacturing a device having an array of nano materials  1410 . At block  2010 , a substrate  110  is prepared. The substrate  110  may have a predetermined thickness. The thickness may be determined by the scale of the device  100 . The thickness of the substrate  110  may vary from tens of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers Depending on the intended use of the device  100 , the substrate  110  may be made of silicon, glass, plastic (e.g., a polyethylene terephthalate), and the like. For example, when the device  100  is used as a display or optical component (e.g., when it is desired to transmit light rays through the substrate  110 ), the substrate  110  may be made of and/or include transparent (or semi-transparent) materials including, but not limited to, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO) or its equivalents. Alternatively, the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of an opaque conductive material including but not limited to magnesium, aluminum, indium, silver-magnesium and the like. 
         [0045]    At block  2020 , a first layer  120  is disposed on the substrate  110  to form a first set of electrodes  130  in a first direction of the first layer  120  (e.g., along a length of the first layer  120  thereon). The first layer  120  may be made of or include photoresists that are deposited on the substrate  110 . The photoresists may be of a predetermined thickness. The first layer  120  is patterned to define multiple parallel first layer grooves  510 . The first layer grooves may extend in various directions including along the length of the first layer  120  thereon. In some embodiments, a photolithography technique (or other equivalent methods) may be used on the photoresists of the first layer  120  to selectively remove portions of the photoresists from the first layer  120  to form first layer grooves  510 . The first layer grooves  510  formed may be disposed uniformly in a first direction (e.g., along the length of the first layer  20  thereon). Alternatively, the first layer grooves  510  may be disposed in varying directions. A conductive material is deposited into the patterned first layer grooves  510  so as to form a first set of multiple electrodes  130 . The first set of electrodes  130  may be made of or include any number of conductive material. When desired, the electrodes  130  may be made of or include transparent or semi-transparent materials that allow the light rays to be transmitted through the electrodes  130 . For example, the electrodes  130  may be made of a transparent conductive material including, but not limited to, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO) and the like. Alternatively, the first set of electrodes  130  may be made of an opaque conductive material including magnesium, aluminum, indium, silver-magnesium and the like. 
         [0046]    At block  2030 , a second layer  120  including nano materials  910  are in contact with the first set of electrodes  130  provided on the first layer  120 . The second layer  140  may be made of or include photoresists that are deposited on the first layer  120 , thereby covering the first set of electrodes  130 . The photoresists may be of a predetermined thickness. The second layer  140  is patterned to define second layer grooves  810  which extend in a direction along its width. In some embodiments, the photoresists may be patterned or removed by various lithographic methods that are generally well known to those of ordinary skill in the semiconductor processing, MEMS processing, and nano technology fields. For example, a photolithography technique may be used to form the second layer grooves  810  in the photoresists of the second layer  140 . The photolithography is continued until the second layer grooves  810  reach the top surfaces of the first set of electrodes  130 . The second layer grooves  810  in the second layer  140  extend in a direction different from that of the first set of electrodes  130 . For example, the second layer grooves  810  may elongate in a direction (e.g., along its width) perpendicular to the direction (e.g., along its length) of the first layer grooves  510 . The nano materials  910  are then absorbed, deposited or disposed into the second layer grooves  810 . In one embodiment, a suspension or mixture of nano materials  910  is supplied on top of the photoresist of the second layer grooves  810 . Such nano materials  910  are elongated and have shapes and sizes that match those of the second layer grooves  811 . In this way, the nano materials  910  are captured into the second layer grooves  810 . The second layer grooves  810  formed in the second layer  140  may be disposed uniformly, e.g., in a direction along its width. Alternatively, the second layer grooves  810  may be disposed in varying directions. 
         [0047]    At block  2040 , a third layer  1010  is disposed on the second layer  140  to form a second set of electrodes  150  which are elongated in a second direction of the substrate  110  (e.g., along its width). The operation of disposing the third layer  1010  includes depositing photoresists to form an array of nano materials  1410  in the second layer  140  and depositing additional photoresists to form a second set of electrodes  150 . 
         [0048]    To form an array of nano materials  1410 , the photoresist of the third layer  1010  is patterned, e.g., by photolithography to define multiple parallel trenches  1210  extending in a direction along its length over the nano materials  910  elongated in a direction along its width. The photolithography is continued until the trenches  1210  reach the top surface of the nano materials  910  disposed in the second layer groove  810  of the second layer  140 . In this way, the photoresists of the third layer  1010  are patterned by using photolithography. The patterned photoresists are used as a mask to selectively expose the nano materials  910  on the second layer  140 . The trenches  1210  may extend in parallel with the direction of the first layer grooves  510  (i.e., along its length), or in any other direction, e.g., a diagonal direction. In one embodiment, exposed portions of the nano materials  910  may be removed from the device  100  through various means. For example, ion beams  1310  are irradiated through the trenches  1210  such that the exposed portions of the nano materials  910  in the second layer  140  maybe burnt or removed. The ion beams  1310  may be irradiated from a beam source (not shown) towards the surface of the third layer  1010  The ion beam source may include mercury vapor thrusters, duoplasmatron, and the like. The device  100  may be placed in a vacuum chamber and be exposed to an ion beam  1310 , thereby abrading away the areas not covered by the photoresists. As a result, the nano materials  910  which originally had the elongated shapes (as shown in  FIG. 9 ) are divided into multiple segments in order to form an array of nano materials  1410 . In this way, the array of nano materials  1410  may be formed so that the lower surface of each element of the array of the nano materials  1410  may be in contact with the first set of electrodes  130  disposed in the first layer  120 . 
         [0049]    To form the second set of electrodes  150  in the third layer  1010 , an additional layer of the photoresist is deposited on top of the previously-deposited and patterned photoresist  1010  of  FIG. 12  to bury the trenches  1210  in the third layer  1010 . The additional layer of photoresist may be deposited on top of the previously-deposited and patterned third layer  1000  of  FIG. 12  to cover the trenches  1210  The resulting uneven layer of the photoresist of the third layer  1010  is processed to form a flat top surface of the third layer  1010 . For example, the third layer  1010  having additional layer of the photoresist may be polished by using a metallography polish to create a flat, defect-free surface of the third layer  1010 . Silicon based polishing pads or diamond solution can be used in the polishing process to facilitate the process. A second set of electrodes  150  is provided in a direction different from that of the first set of electrodes  130 . The third layer  1010  is patterned by lithography methods to define multiple parallel grooves extending along its width over the array of nano materials  1410 . For example, a photolithography technique (or other equivalent methods) may be used on the third layer  1010  to selectively remove portions of the photoresist of the third layer  1010  thereby forming third layer grooves  1810  as shown in  FIG. 18 . The third layer grooves  1810  may extend in various directions, including along its width. The photolithography is performed until each of the segmented nano materials (i.e., each element of the array of nano materials  1410 ) are exposed through the third layer grooves  1810 . A conductive material is deposited into the patterned third layer grooves  1810  forming a second set of multiple electrodes  150 . The second set of electrodes  150  may be in contact with the array of nano materials  1410  disposed under the second set of electrodes  150 . Similar to the first set of electrodes  130 , the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of or include any conductive material and, when desirable, the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of or include transparent or semi-transparent materials that allow light rays to be transmitted through the second set of electrodes  150 . For example, the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of a transparent conductive material including, but not limited to, indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO). Alternatively, the second set of electrodes  150  may be made of an opaque conductive material including magnesium, aluminum, indium, silver-magnesium and the like. In this way, multiple sets of electrodes (i.e., the first and the second sets of electrodes  130  and  150 ) are provided over and below the array of nano materials  1410  respectively, thereby making the device  100  into a so-called sandwich-type or array-type nano matrix device as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0050]    With the array of nano materials  1410  of  FIG. 1 , one can selectively supply electric current or apply electric voltage to each of the first set of electrodes and each of the second set of electrodes, thereby manipulating each element of the array of nano materials  1410 . Accordingly, the array of nano materials  1410  can be used for various purposes. In one example, the array of nano materials  1410  may be used for a switch box in which a user can open and close each element of the array of nano materials  1410  by selectively supplying the electric current or applying voltage through desired first and second electrodes  130  and  150 . In another example, the array of nano materials  1410  may be used for a memory device in which a user can activate and deactivate each element of the array of nano materials  1410  by selectively supplying the electric current or voltage through desired first and second electrodes  130  and  150 . In another example, the array of nano materials  1410  may be used for a light emitting device in which each element of the array of nano materials  1410  may emit light of desired wavelengths when selectively supplied with the electric current or voltage through desired first and second electrodes. It is appreciated that nano materials used to make the array of nano materials  1410  have suitable physical, chemical, electrical, and/or optical properties when they are used as the switch box, memory device, and/or light emitting device, where such desired properties are well known to those skilled in the relevant art. 
         [0051]    It is appreciated that the above process for fabricating the nano matrix device may be performed using various substrates and photoresists as long as such materials can conform to the above process. Nano materials  910  with aspect ratios that fall in the range of, e.g., greater than 20, greater than 50, greater than 100, greater than 1,000, greater than 10,000, or the like may be used. In addition, the photoresists and/or substrate may be patterned or removed by various conventional lithographic methods. In general, selection of the above materials and lithographic methods are generally well known to those of ordinary skill in the semiconductor processing, MEMS processing, and nano technology. 
         [0052]    One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the disclosed embodiments. 
         [0053]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.