Modified mixed chromatography method for separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes based on diameter and conductivity

摘要

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are popular for their electrical conductivity properties with excellent metallic or semiconducting behavior. Selective separation of SWCNTs can play a significant role in the realization of the potential application of SWCNTs like energy conversion and storage, electronics and biomedical applications. Gel filtration is one of the most well-known and efficient large-scale separation techniques but still complex and lengthy. In this paper, we present a very simple, efficient, and low-cost method with only four column chromatography repetitions for separation of SWCNTs using both sephacryl and agarose gels. Our results demonstrate that the small diameter semiconducting (s-) SWCNTs are adsorbed more strongly to the sephacryl gel column, while large diameter s-SWCNTs adsorbed more strongly to the column with agarose gel. Comparative optical absorption spectra of the separated nanotubes and the reference reveal the effectiveness of the presented method. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.