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Routes towards separating metallic and semiconducting nanotubes
Sarbajit Banerjee1, Tirandai Hemraj-Benny, Stanislaus S Wong
1Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3400, USA.
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
|August 3, 2005
Summary
Separating single-walled carbon nanotubes by electronic properties is key for molecular electronics. Chemical methods offer a promising approach for bulk separation of these nanotubes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemistry
Background:
- Separating single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by electronic properties is crucial for advancing molecular electronics, particularly field-effect transistors.
- Current separation methods often struggle with bulk processing or achieving high purity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore chemical strategies for the selective separation of metallic and semiconducting SWNTs.
- To evaluate the efficacy of non-covalent and covalent sidewall chemistry for SWNT separation.
Main Methods:
- Investigated differential reactivity of metallic versus semiconducting SWNTs using chemical functionalization.
- Compared chemical approaches with physical separation techniques like dielectrophoresis and current-induced oxidation.
Main Results:
- Chemically based methods show potential for bulk separation of SWNTs based on electronic characteristics.
- Sidewall chemistry provides a viable route for selective functionalization and separation of nanotubes.
Conclusions:
- Chemical functionalization offers a promising pathway for the large-scale separation of SWNTs.
- Understanding interfacial properties is critical for developing selective nanotube functionalization protocols.