Comparative studies on acid and thermal based selective purification of HiPCO produced single-walled carbon nanotubes

J. G. Wiltshire, A. N. Khlobystov, L. J. Li, S. G. Lyapin, G. A.D. Briggs, R. J. Nicholas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report a comparative study on gas and liquid phase oxidative treatments of SWNTs, using a HiPCO produced raw material with a broad distribution of nanotube diameters. The effects of these two processes were correlated using absorption and Raman spectroscopy (radial breathing and G modes) and TEM. We conclude that liquid phase oxidation is a continuous diameter-selective process eliminating narrower SWNTs through oxidizing sidewalls of SWNTs. Gas phase oxidation is a more discrete process requiring high activation energy for diameter-selective purification. Unlike liquid phase oxidation the gas phase process preferentially oxidizes SWNTs without introducing sidewall defects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)239-243
Number of pages5
JournalChemical Physics Letters
Volume386
Issue number4-6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 11 2004
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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