Carbon nanotubes: measuring dispersion and length.
Advanced technological uses of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) rely on the production of single length and chirality populations that are currently only available through liquid-phase post processing. The foundation of all of these processing steps is the attainment of individualized nanotube dispersions in solution. An understanding of the colloidal properties of the dispersed SWCNTs can then be used to design appropriate conditions for separations. In many instances nanotube size, particularly length, is especially active in determining the properties achievable in a given population, and, thus, there is a critical need for measurement technologies for both length distribution and effective separation techniques. In this Progress Report, the current state of the art for measuring dispersion and length populations, including separations, is documented, and examples are used to demonstrate the desirability of addressing these parameters.
Fagan
Jeffrey A
JA
Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. Jeffrey.fagan@nist.gov
Bauer
Barry J
BJ
Hobbie
Erik K
EK
Becker
Matthew L
ML
Hight Walker
Angela R
AR
Simpson
Jeffrey R
JR
Chun
Jaehun
J
Obrzut
Jan
J
Bajpai
Vardhan
V
Phelan
Fred R
FR
Simien
Daneesh
D
Huh
Ji Yeon
JY
Migler
Kalman B
KB
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004581:Electronics; D006801:Humans; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D004247:DNA