Achieving Diameter-Selective Separation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanobutes by Using Polymer Conformation-Confined Helical Cavity.

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2011 · ACS Macro Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/mz3001308· OSTI ID:1073656

Chen, Yusheng ^[1]; Xu, Yongqian ^[1]; Perry, Kelly A ^[2]; Sokolov, Alexei P ^[2]; More, Karren Leslie ^[2]; Pang, Yi ^[1]

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1. University of Akron
2. ORNL

A water-soluble poly[(m-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(p-phenylenevinylene)] (PmPV) 2 has been synthesized, which exhibits an unsymmetrical substitution pattern on the para-phenylene unit. With one substituent being hydrophilic while the other being hydrophobic, the polymer chain has a higher tendency to fold in aqueous solution, thereby promoting the helical conformation. The polymer is found to selectively disperse the SWNTs of small diameters (d=0.75-0.84 nm), in sharp contrast to PmPV 1 with a symmetrical substitution pattern. The intriguing diameter-based selectivity is believed to be associated with the confined helical conformation, which provides a suitable cavity to host the SWNT of proper sizes. The study thus provides a useful demonstration that the polymer conformation can have a profound impact on the SWNT sorting.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Shared Research Equipment Collaborative Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1073656
• Journal Information: ACS Macro Letters, Journal Name: ACS Macro Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 1; ISSN 2161-1653
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English