title: Chirality-Controlled Synthesis and Applications of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes.
abstract: Preparation of chirality-defined single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is the top challenge in the nanotube field. In recent years, great progress has been made toward preparing single-chirality SWCNTs through both direct controlled synthesis and postsynthesis separation approaches. Accordingly, the uses of single-chirality-dominated SWCNTs for various applications have emerged as a new front in nanotube research. In this Review, we review recent progress made in the chirality-controlled synthesis of SWCNTs, including metal-catalyst-free SWCNT cloning by vapor-phase epitaxy elongation of purified single-chirality nanotube seeds, chirality-specific growth of SWCNTs on bimetallic solid alloy catalysts, chirality-controlled synthesis of SWCNTs using bottom-up synthetic strategy from carbonaceous molecular end-cap precursors, etc. Recent major progresses in postsynthesis separation of single-chirality SWCNT species, as well as methods for chirality characterization of SWCNTs, are also highlighted. Moreover, we discuss some examples where single-chirality SWCNTs have shown clear advantages over SWCNTs with broad chirality distributions. We hope this review could inspire more research on the chirality-controlled preparation of SWCNTs and equally important inspire the use of single-chirality SWCNT samples for more fundamental studies and practical applications.
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University , Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Bilu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7274-5752
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fanqi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8058-1348
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Chongwu
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8448-8450
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: chirality; controlled growth; diameter; electronic property; graphene; handedness; separation; single-wall carbon nanotube