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Solubility of carbon nanotubes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Marc In Het Panhuis ,
Jonathan N. Coleman  and
Werner J. Blau
Marc In Het Panhuis
Affiliation:
Materials Ireland Polymer Research Centre, Department of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Jonathan N. Coleman
Affiliation:
Materials Ireland Polymer Research Centre, Department of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Werner J. Blau
Affiliation:
Materials Ireland Polymer Research Centre, Department of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Abstract

We have described a novel experimental technique to separate nanotubes from other unwanted carbon species in arc generated carbon soot. A conjugated polymer was used to bind to nanotubes in solution. The resultant hybrid was soluble while extraneous carbon material formed a sediment at the bottom of the sample bottle. This process was monitored using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) which showed that 63% of nanotubes were kept in solution while 98.1% of impurities were rejected. Optimal polymer characteristics for nanotube solubility were identified using geometry optimisation and experimental evidence. It was calculated that a successful polymer has a flat shaped helical backbone with solvent solubilising groups projected outwards. This is achieved with the following polymer characteristics, two solvent solubilising groups on a twist allowing π-conjugated backbone.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 633: Symposium A – Nanotubes and Related Materials , 2000 , A5.3
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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