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

Chengmin Jiang; Avishek Saha; Changsheng Xiang; Colin C Young; James M Tour; Matteo Pasquali; Angel A Martí

doi:10.1021/nn4011544

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

ACS Nano. 2013 May 28;7(5):4503-10. doi: 10.1021/nn4011544. Epub 2013 Apr 16.

Authors

Chengmin Jiang¹, Avishek Saha, Changsheng Xiang, Colin C Young, James M Tour, Matteo Pasquali, Angel A Martí

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, Richard E Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.

PMID: 23590431
DOI: 10.1021/nn4011544

Abstract

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Dimethyl Sulfoxide / chemistry
Electrolytes / chemistry*
Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
Models, Molecular
Molecular Conformation
Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
Solubility

Substances

Electrolytes
Nanotubes, Carbon
Dimethyl Sulfoxide