title: Spontaneous dissolution of ultralong single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: We report that chlorosulfonic acid is a true solvent for a wide range of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), including single-walled (SWNTs), double-walled (DWNTs), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and CNTs hundreds of micrometers long. The CNTs dissolve as individuals at low concentrations, as determined by cryo-TEM (cryogenic transmission electron microscopy), and form liquid-crystalline phases at high concentrations. The mechanism of dissolution is electrostatic stabilization through reversible protonation of the CNT side walls, as previously established for SWNTs. CNTs with highly defective side walls do not protonate sufficiently and, hence, do not dissolve. The dissolution and liquid-crystallinity of ultralong CNTs are critical advances in the liquid-phase processing of macroscopic CNT-based materials, such as fibers and films.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: A Nicholas G
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Parra-Vasquez
authors.forename: Natnael
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Behabtu
authors.forename: Micah J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Cary L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Pint
authors.forename: Colin C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Ellina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kesselman
authors.forename: Anubha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Pulickel M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajayan
authors.forename: Yachin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Yeshayahu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Talmon
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasquali
mesh_terms: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012997:Solvents; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C013880:chlorosulfonic acid