Compositional Analysis of ssDNA-Coated Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes through UV Absorption Spectroscopy

Aqueous suspensions of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) coated by ssDNA are analyzed using UV absorption and total carbon measurements. The results give absolute average concen-trations of both components in samples without free ssDNA. From those values, the average mid-UV SWCNT absorptivity is deduced for three different batches of relatively small diameter nanotubes: two HiPco and one CoMoCAT. The absorptivity values enable the use of simple spectropho-tometry to measure absolute concentrations of similar SWCNT samples in aqueous SDS. The results also quantify the mass ratio of ssDNA to SWCNT, defining the average number of nanotube carbon atoms suspended by one ssDNA strand of T15GT15 or T30G. Comparing this experimental parameter with results from replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations of one ssDNA strand freely adsorbed on a (6,5) segment shows close agreement between the computed number of SWCNT atoms covered per strand and the measured number of SWCNT atoms suspended per strand.

Automated summary

Aqueous suspensions of single-wall carbon nanotubes coated by ssDNA were analyzed to determine the absolute average concentrations of both components and the absorptivity values of the nanotubes. The results provide a method to measure the absolute concentrations of similar SWCNT samples in aqueous SDS using simple spectrophotometry. The study also quantifies the mass ratio of ssDNA to SWCNT and compares experimental results with molecular dynamics simulations.