A simple method of separating metallic and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes based on molecular charge transfer.
Interaction of as-prepared single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), containing a mixture of metallic and semiconducting species with the potassium salt of coronene tetracarboxylic acid, I, in an aqueous medium provides a simple method of separating semiconducting and metallic species. The metallic nanotubes precipitate out on interaction with I while the semiconducting nanotubes remain in solution. The method avoids centrifugation and is amenable for large-scale separation and can be used as a routine laboratory procedure. Interestingly, interaction with strong electron acceptor molecules brings about metal-semiconductor transitions in SWNTs.
Voggu
Rakesh
R
Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P. O., Bangalore 560 064, India.
Rao
K Venkata
KV
George
Subi J
SJ
Rao
C N R
CN