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Abstract
The identification of scalable processes that transfer random mixtures of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into fractions featuring a high content of semiconducting species is crucial for future application of SWCNTs in high-performance electronics. Herein we demonstrate a highly efficient and simple separation method that relies on selective interactions between tailor-made amphiphilic polymers and semiconducting SWCNTs in the presence of low viscosity separation media. High purity individualized semiconducting SWCNTs or even self-organized semiconducting sheets are separated from an as-produced SWCNT dispersion via a single weak field centrifugation run. Absorption and Raman spectroscopy are applied to verify the high purity of the obtained SWCNTs. Furthermore SWCNT - network field-effect transistors were fabricated, which exhibit high ON/OFF ratios (105) and field-effect mobilities (17 cm2/Vs). In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of high purity separation by a novel low complexity process, our method can be readily transferred to large scale production.
Highlights
In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that highly efficient purification of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is possible in one separation step and using only conventional centrifugation, i.e. weak field centrifugation (WFC)
In contrast to the separation approach based on selective polymer wrapping in organic solvents[14,22], the WFC approach in aqueous media presented in this work is enabled by the combination of two key elements: comb polymers with tailored amphiphilic properties and low viscosity aqueous solutions of heavy liquids
For the detailed synthesis see Supplementary Section 1. It has a hydrophobic backbone based on benzene rings which are substituted with hydrophobic dodecyl side chains as well as hydrophilic polyethylenglycol (PEG) side chains and phenoxyethanolphosphate groups
Summary
Carbon Nanotubes via Weak Field received: 02 March 2016 accepted: 28 April 2016 Published: 18 May 2016. The non-toxic, recyclable SPT enables high purity fractionation at low g-forces, while stronger centrifugal fields decrease the time to reach the separation state In this state, the well dispersed semiconducting nanotubes (lower density) are withheld at the upper part of the centrifugation vessel due to the formation of a density barrier[30] as further explained in Supplementary Section 3. We have demonstrated a highly efficient and simple method to isolate semiconducting species from as-produced SWCNTs. The development of tailor-made polymers with strong amphiphilic character and the usage of low viscosity heavy liquids lead to very high degrees of semiconductor enrichment using conventional centrifugation only. The development of tailor-made polymers with strong amphiphilic character and the usage of low viscosity heavy liquids lead to very high degrees of semiconductor enrichment using conventional centrifugation only With this method, individualized SWCNTs can be isolated and flexible and extended semiconducting SWCNT sheets are obtainable. Throughout the entire process a maximum g-force 10,000 ×g was required, which enables a transfer of the method without major modifications to large-scale production equipment
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