Increased solubility, liquid-crystalline phase, and selective functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotube polyelectrolyte dispersions

摘要

The solubility of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) polyelectrolytes [K(THF)]nSWCNT in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was determined by a combination of centrifugation, UV-vis spectral properties, and solution extraction. The SWCNT formed a liquid crystal at a concentration above 3.8 mg/mL. Also, crown ether 18-crown-6 was found to increase the solubility of the SWCNT polyelectrolytes in DMSO. Raman spectroscopy and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence analyses were applied to study the functionalization of SWCNTs. Small-diameter SWCNTs were found to be preferentially functionalized when the SWCNT polyelectrolytes were dispersed in DMSO.