(Invited) Supramolecular Chemistry-Based One-Pot Separation of Solubilizer-Free Pure Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Molecular Strategy and Mechanism

Abstract

We summarize a supramolecular chemistry-based one-pot, and highly efficient separation of a solubilizer/adsorbent-free pure semiconducting SWCNT (sc-SWCNT) using flavin/isoalloxazine analogues with different substituents. On the basis of both experimental and computational simulations (DFT study), we have revealed the molecular requirements of the solubilizers as well as provided a possible mechanism for such a highly efficient selective sc-SWCNT separation[1]. We introduced thio-substituents at 7- and 8-positions of a flavin analogue, which allows for coordination of metal ions. Based on both experimental and theoretical methods, we have demonstrated that the formed Cu2+-based supramolecular assembled complex shows very high selective sorting of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes with (8,6)- and (9,4)-chiralities[2]. The present sorting methods are very simple (one-pot) and gives a promising sc-SWCNT separation methodology.