Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Sorting carbon nanotubes

Published

Author(s)

Ming Zheng

Abstract

Sorting of single-wall carbon nanotubes by their electronic and atomic structures in liquid phases is reviewed in this chapter. We first introduce the sorting problem, then provide an overview of several sorting methodologies, following roughly the chronological order of their development over the past fifteen years or so. Major methods discussed include ion-exchange chromatography, density-gradient ultracentrifugation, selective extraction in organic solvents, gel chromatography, and aqueous two-phase extraction. A main focus of the review is on the common mechanisms underlining all sorting processes. We propose that differences in solvation among different nanotube species are the ultimate driving force of sorting, and we corroborate this proposal by presenting analysis on how the differences are realized in electronic- structure-based sorting and atomic-structure-based sorting. In the end, we offer some suggestions on future directions that may grow out of carbon nanotube sorting. In particular, the prospect of expanding the function of DNA/carbon nanotube hybrid to control inter-particle interactions both inside and outside the nanotube is discussed.
Citation
Chemistry of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes
Publisher Info
Springer, Beijing, -1

Keywords

chirality, DNA, separation, single-wall carbon nanotubes, solvation energy

Citation

Zheng, M. (2017), Sorting carbon nanotubes, Chemistry of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes, Springer, Beijing, -1 (Accessed October 31, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created January 12, 2017, Updated March 21, 2017