title: Metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes separation using an aqueous two-phase separation technique: a review.
abstract: It is known that carbon nanotubes show desirable physical and chemical properties with a wide array of potential applications. Nonetheless, their potential has been hampered by the difficulties in acquiring high purity, chiral-specific tubes. Considerable advancement has been made in terms of the purification of carbon nanotubes, for instance chemical oxidation, physical separation, and myriad combinations of physical and chemical methods. The aqueous two-phase separation technique has recently been demonstrated to be able to sort carbon nanotubes based on their chirality. The technique requires low cost polymers and salt, and is able to sort the tubes based on their diameter as well as metallicity. In this review, we aim to provide a review that could stimulate innovative thought on the progress of a carbon nanotubes sorting method using the aqueous two-phase separation method, and present possible future work and an outlook that could enhance the methodology.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Low Dimensional Material Research Centre, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Malcolm S Y
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Eng-Poh
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Joon Ching
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: Chien Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Tau Chuan
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Kai Lin
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Woon
authors.forename: Pau Loke
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Show