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Contorted Octabenzocircumbiphenyl Sorts Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Structural Specificity

Journal Article · · Chemistry of Materials
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [2];  [4]
  1. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States); DOE/OSTI
  2. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
  3. Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
  4. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
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Here, we use a nonplanar aromatic molecule, contorted octabenzocircumbiphenyl (c-OBCB), to sort semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by their chiral angles. From absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy studies, we find that c-OBCB preferentially binds and sorts for a number of semiconducting carbon nanotubes with chiral angles greater than 12°. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the contorted aromatic core of c-OBCB binds strongly to only certain SWNTs, especially those with matching curvature, and that this discriminatory binding interaction is reinforced by preferences of the side chains on the c-OBCB to stick to SWNT surface rather than interact with the solvent. This opens the door to side chain/solvent engineering to bias the selection of certain (m,n) SWNT variants. We also investigate the temperature dependence of hole mobility in field-effect transistors comprising c-OBCB-sorted semiconducting carbon-nanotube networks and find hole transport in these networks to be thermally activated.
Research Organization:
Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO); USDOE Office of Science (SC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-01ER15264
OSTI ID:
1534447
Journal Information:
Chemistry of Materials, Journal Name: Chemistry of Materials Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 29; ISSN 0897-4756
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Figures / Tables (5)

Figure 1(p. 4)figure Figure 1
Figure 2(p. 5)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 6)figure Figure 3
Figure 4(p. 6)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 7)figure Figure 5

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Carbon nanotubes
Charge transport
Chemistry
Materials science
Mathematical methods
Selectivity
Thickness