Comparative studies on acid and thermal based selective purification of HiPCO produced single-walled carbon nanotubes

Journal article

We report a comparative study on gas and liquid phase oxidative treatments of SWNTs, using a HiPCO produced raw material with a broad distribution of nanotube diameters. The effects of these two processes were correlated using absorption and Raman spectroscopy (radial breathing and G modes) and TEM. We conclude that liquid phase oxidation is a continuous diameter-selective process eliminating narrower SWNTs through oxidizing sidewalls of SWNTs. Gas phase oxidation is a more discrete process requiring high activation energy for diameter-selective purification. Unlike liquid phase oxidation the gas phase process preferentially oxidizes SWNTs without introducing sidewall defects. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Authors: Wiltshire, J; Khlobystov, A; Li, L; Lyapin, S; Briggs, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: CHEMICAL PHYSICS LETTERS
• Volume: 386
• Issue: 4-6
• Pages: 239-243
• Publication date: 2004-03-11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2004.01.067
• ISSN: 0009-2614
• Language: English