Magnetic separation of Fe catalyst from single-walled carbon nanotubes in an aqueous surfactant solution

J. G. Wiltshire, L. J. Li, A. N. Khlobystov, C. J. Padbury, G. A.D. Briggs, R. J. Nicholas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report an efficient technique to separate ferromagnetic catalyst particles from an aqueous surfactant solution of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by the use of a 1.3 T permanent magnet. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) demonstrates that SWNTs are coated with a surfactant layer that stabilises the aqueous dispersions of SWNTs. The residual quantities of Fe catalyst (∼3%) can be effectively removed from a colloid solution of SWNTs in a magnetic field while absorbance spectra of the initial and purified solutions show that the nanotube diameter distribution remains unchanged.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1151-1155
Number of pages5
JournalCarbon
Volume43
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carbon nanotubes
  • Catalyst
  • Magnetic properties

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science

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