title: Comparison of the quality of aqueous dispersions of single wall carbon nanotubes using surfactants and biomolecules.
abstract: The use of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in current and future applications depends on the ability to process SWCNTs in a solvent to yield high-quality dispersions characterized by individual SWCNTs and possessing a minimum of SWCNT bundles. Many approaches for the dispersion of SWCNTs have been reported. However, there is no general assessment which compares the relative quality and dispersion efficiency of the respective methods. Herein we report a quantitative comparison of the relative ability of "wrapping polymers" including oligonucleotides, peptides, lignin, chitosan, and cellulose and surfactants such as cholates, ionic liquids, and organosulfates to disperse SWCNTs in water. Optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy provide quantitative characterization (amount of SWCNTs that can be suspended by a given surfactant and its ability to debundle SWCNTs) of these suspensions. Sodium deoxy cholate (SDOCO), oligonucleotides (GT)(15), (GT)(10), (AC)(15), (AC)(10), C(10-30), and carboxymethylcellulose (CBMC-250K) exhibited the highest quality suspensions of the various systems studied in this work. The information presented here provides a good framework for further study of SWCNT purification and applications.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA.
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haggenmueller
authors.forename: Sameer S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rahatekar
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: Jaehun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Rajesh R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kadla
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Trulove
authors.forename: Douglas F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Hugh C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Delong
authors.forename: Zhichao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Shana O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gilman
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry*; D048288:Imidazolines / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D048288:Imidazolines; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D013501:Surface-Active Agents