biostudies-literatureUnknown17(1)Han HVertically aligned carbon nanotubes exhibit exceptional properties but typically require high temperature (> 700 °C) for growth, thereby complicating low-temperature device integration. Herein, an ice sublimation-based transfer process is proposed for integrating vertically aligned carbon nanotubes into diverse substrates without structural damage. Ambient vapor is condensed under controlled atmospheric conditions to form a thin and uniform ice layer on the acceptor substrate, serving as a temporary adhesive. After transfer, the ice sublimes, enabling the clean release of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes with no residual contaminants while preserving their pristine vertical architecture. Vertically aligned carbon nanotube micropatterns with feature sizes ranging from 10 µm to 1 cm are sNature communications1912https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12923616biostudies-literatureIce sublimation transfer of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes for residue-free and structure-preserving integration.PMC12923616Heo BHan HJo EKim JKoh DHwang KfalseIce sublimation transfer of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes for residue-free and structure-preserving integration.Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes exhibit exceptional properties but typically require high temperature (> 700 °C) for growth, thereby complicating low-temperature device integration. Herein, an ice sublimation-based transfer process is proposed for integrating vertically aligned carbon nanotubes into diverse substrates without structural damage. Ambient vapor is condensed under controlled atmospheric conditions to form a thin and uniform ice layer on the acceptor substrate, serving as a temporary adhesive. After transfer, the ice sublimes, enabling the clean release of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes with no residual contaminants while preserving their pristine vertical architecture. Vertically aligned carbon nanotube micropatterns with feature sizes ranging from 10 µm to 1 cm are s2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-07-16T14:52:57.346Z2026-07-09T11:03:03.479ZS-EPMC129236164156569010.1038/s41467-026-68614-x