Selective enrichment of (6,5) and (8,3) single-walled carbon nanotubes via cosurfactant extraction from narrow (n,m) distribution samples

Li Wei, Bo Wang, Teng Hooi Goh, Lain Jong Li, Yanhui Yang, Mary B. Chan-Park, Yuan Chen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Highly selective enrichment of (6,5) and (8,3) SWCNTs (above 85% of the semiconducting tubes) was achieved through multistep extraction by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium cholate (SC) cosurfactant solution from narrowly (n,m) distributed SWCNTs produced by the catalyst Co-MCM-41. A systematic change in the chirality selectivity was observed when the weight ratio between SDS and SC varied in cosurfactant solutions, with maximum enrichment selectivity for (6,5) tubes yielded at 1:4. Furthermore, surfactants were washed away easily to produce "clean" SWCNTs. This observation sheds light on the possibility of obtaining SWCNTs with the desired (n,m) structure via an easily scalable approach. No selectivity was detected when using sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS)/SC cosurfactants, hence suggesting the need for further exploration of various cosurfactant combinations for more effective extraction of different (n,m) species.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2771-2774
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume112
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 13 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

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