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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering

Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering

Published on: June 1, 2016

Engineering Supramolecular Polymer Conformation for Efficient Carbon Nanotube Sorting.

Theodore Z Gao¹, Zehao Sun^2,3, Xuzhou Yan²

¹Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.

Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

|June 6, 2020

Summary

Supramolecular polymers efficiently sort single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by electronic type. Engineering polymer conformation with chain stoppers doubled sorting yield while maintaining CNT purity.

Keywords:

carbon nanotubes chain stoppers polymer sorting ring-chain equilibrium supramolecular polymers

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Engineering Molecular Recognition with Bio-mimetic Polymers on Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Engineering Molecular Recognition with Bio-mimetic Polymers on Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Published on: January 10, 2017

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Last Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering

Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering

Published on: June 1, 2016

Grafting Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Polystyrene to Enable Self-Assembly and Anisotropic Patchiness

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Published on: April 1, 2018

Engineering Molecular Recognition with Bio-mimetic Polymers on Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Engineering Molecular Recognition with Bio-mimetic Polymers on Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Published on: January 10, 2017

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Nanotechnology

Background:

Supramolecular polymers offer a method for sorting single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by electronic type.
Unlike conjugated polymers, supramolecular polymers are easily removed post-sorting, enabling pristine CNT isolation and polymer recycling.
Understanding the impact of polymer properties on CNT sorting efficacy remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between supramolecular polymer conformation and its efficacy in sorting single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
To engineer polymer conformation using chain stoppers and assess the impact on sorting performance.

Main Methods:

Utilized NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy to analyze polymer conformation.
Employed small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to study polymer structure.
Applied thermodynamic modeling to understand ring-chain equilibrium.
Investigated the effect of varying stopper-monomer ratios on sorting yield and CNT purity.

Main Results:

Demonstrated that the supramolecular polymer exists in a ring-chain equilibrium.
Showed that addition of chain stoppers shifts this equilibrium towards linear chains.
Achieved a doubling of the CNT sorting yield, from 7% to 14%, by controlling the stopper-monomer ratio.
Maintained high semiconducting purity (>99%) and preserved the properties of the sorted CNTs.

Conclusions:

Polymer conformation significantly influences the efficiency of supramolecular polymer-based CNT sorting.
Chain stoppers are effective tools for controlling polymer conformation and enhancing sorting yield.
This approach allows for improved isolation of electronically sorted CNTs with facile polymer recovery.