A triptycene-based approach to solubilising carbon nanotubes and C60.
We describe herein the synthesis of a triptycene-based surfactant designed with the ability to solubilise single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and C(60) in water through non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, an amphiphilic naphthalene-based surfactant with the same ability to solubilise SWNTs and C(60) has also been prepared. The compounds synthesised were designed with either two ionic or non-ionic tails to ensure a large number of supramolecular interactions with the solvent, thereby promoting strong solubilisation. The surfactants produced stable suspensions in which the SWNTs are dispersed and the surfactant/SWNT complexes formed are stable for more than one year. UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy, TEM and AFM were employed to probe the solubilisation properties of the dispersion of surfactants and SWNTs in water.
Department of Chemistry, The University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Peter
P
Hammershøj
Paul H H
PH
Bomans
Rajamani
R
Lakshminarayanan
Jeppe
J
Fock
Stig Helmer
SH
Jensen
Thomas Sand
TS
Jespersen
Theis
T
Brock-Nannestad
Tue
T
Hassenkam
Jesper
J
Nygård
Nico A J M
NA
Sommerdijk
Kristine
K
Kilså
Thomas
T
Bjørnholm
Jørn Bolstad
JB
Christensen
D000873:Anthracenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D000873:Anthracenes; D037741:Fullerenes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water; C520712:triptycene; C069837:fullerene C60