Patent ID: 8449781

Claim:
A method for selectively etching-back a polymer matrix to expose tips of carbon nanotubes comprising: a. growing carbon nanotubes on a conductive substrate; b. filling the gap around the carbon nanotubes with a polymeric fill matrix comprising at least one latent photoacid generator, wherein the polymeric fill matrix comprises a poly(hydroxystyrene) based polymer or copolymer or blends of poly(hydroxystyrene) based polymers and/or copolymers, and the latent photoacid generator is selected from triarylsulfonium salts, diaryliodonium salts, pholoroglucinyl, O,O-dinitrobenzyl sulfonates, benzylsulfones, 1,1,1-trihalides, quaternary amino salts, or a combination thereof; and c. selectively etching-back the polymeric fill matrix to expose tips of the carbon nanotubes.