Specific DNA Sequences for the Purification of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Species in Polymer Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Abstract

A systematic purification of single-chirality species of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) from their synthetic mixture provides foundation for many fundamental studies and technological applications of SWCNT. Previous study demonstrated a robust separation of SWCNT dispersed in bile salt surfactants according to their diameter and metallicity in a polymer aqueous two-phase (ATP) system. In this work, specific DNA sequences were utilized as an effective approach for recognition of specific SWCNT chirality and their subsequent purification using the ATP separation method. We show that many single chirality SWCNTs in a synthetic mixture can be obtained in very high purity. The combination of DNA sequence recognition of specific SWCNT structure and the rapid and tunable ATP separation method open a new route for sorting nanotube into each and every single-chirality species. In addition, the feasibility of volume scale-up in ATP separation allows sufficient materials to be obtained for fundamental studies and application development. Further exploration of DNA recognition sequences in ATP separation method and new polymer ATP systems will be the main focus of our future studies in carbon nanotube sorting.