title: Light-controlled single-walled carbon nanotube dispersions in aqueous solution.
abstract: We have succeeded in dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) into an aqueous solution of poly(ethylene glycol)-terminated malachite green derivative (PEG-MG) through simple sonication. It was found that UV exposure caused reaggregation of these predispersed SWNTs in the same aqueous medium, as adsorbed PEG-MG photochromic chains could be effectively photocleavaged from the nanotube surface. The observed light-controlled dispersion and reaggragation of SWNTs in the aqueous solution should facilitate the development of SWNT dispersions with a controllable dispersity for potential applications.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Senlin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yugui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smet