Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Precision Milling of Carbon Nanotube Forests Using Low Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: February 5, 2017
A diameter-selective attack of metallic carbon nanotubes by nitronium ions
Kay Hyeok An1, Jin Sung Park, Cheol-Min Yang
1BK21 Physics Division, Institute of Basic Science, Center for Nanotubes and Nanostructured Composites, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea.
Abstract:
We have found a method for a diameter-selective removal of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (m-SWCNTs) from semiconducting (s-) ones by stirring or sonicating SWCNT powder in tetramethylene sulfone (TMS)/chloroform solution with nitronium hexafluoroantimonate (NO2SbF6: NHFA) and nitronium tetrafluoroborate (NO2BF4: NTFB). Positively charged nitronium ions (NO2+) were intercalated into nanotube bundles, where the intercalation was promoted also by the counterions. Nitronium ions selectively attacked the sidewall of the m-SWCNTs due to the abundant presence of electron density at the Fermi level, thus yielding stronger binding energy as compared to the counterpart s-SWCNTs. The s-SWCNTs were left on the filter after filtration, whereas the m-SWCNTs were disintegrated and drained away as amorphous carbons. The effectiveness of removing m-SWCNTs was confirmed by the resonant Raman spectra and absorption spectra.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
Nuclear Transmutation
Diamagnetic Shielding of Nuclei: Local Diamagnetic Current

