Journal
ACS NANO
Volume 6, Issue 1, Pages 54-62Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/nn2041494
Keywords
single-walled carbon nanotubes; nanotubide; reductive dissolution; purification; separation
Categories
Funding
- Bio-Nano Consulting Ltd.
- UK's EPSRC
- Linde
- EPSRC [EP/E501141/1]
- EPSRC through IRC in Nanotechnology [GR/R45680/01]
- Linde North America Inc., through Bio-Nano Consulting Ltd.
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/G007314/1, GR/R45680/01, EP/E501141/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- EPSRC [EP/E501141/1, EP/G007314/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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As synthesized, bulk single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) samples are typically highly agglomerated and heterogeneous. However, their most promising applications require the isolation of individualized, purified nanotubes, often with specific optoelectronic characteristics. A wide range of dispersion and separation techniques have been developed, but the use of sonication or ultracentrifugation imposes severe limits on scalability and may introduce damage. Here, we demonstrate a new, intrinsically scalable method for SWNT dispersion and separation, using reductive treatment in sodium metal-ammonia solutions, optionally followed by selective dissolution in a polar aprotic organic solvent. In situ small-angle neutron scattering demonstrates the presence of dissolved, unbundled SWNTs in solution, at concentrations reaching at least 2 mg/mL; the ability to isolate individual nanotubes is confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Spectroscopy data suggest that the soluble fraction contains predominately large metallic nanotubes; a potential new mechanism for nanotube separation Is proposed. In addition, the G/D ratios observed during the dissolution sequence, as a function of metal: carbon ratio, demonstrate a new purification method for removing carbonaceous impurities from pristine SWNTs, which avoids traditional, damaging, competitive oxidation reactions.
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