(Invited) Facile Isolation of Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes By Flavin-Based Supramolecular Chemistry

Abstract

The separation/purification of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sem-SWNTs) with high quality is one of the most important issues in the science and technology of carbon nanotubes[1-4]. We have already reported that supramolecular coordination polymer [1] and hydrogen bonding systems [2] as well as use of a flavin molecule [3] are powerful methods for highly efficient adsorbent-free sem-SWNT separation. Here, we designed and synthesized a flavin with thioalkyl substituent at 7- and 8 positions, then examined its selective sem-SWNT sorting behavior. We have found that the addition of a metal ion formed a complex with the flavin, which enhanced selective (8,6)SWNT sorting.