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Towards Solutions of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Common Solvents
Author(s) -
Bergin Shane D.,
Nicolosi Valeria,
Streich Philip V.,
Giordani Silvia,
Sun Zhenyu,
Windle Alan H.,
Ryan Peter,
Niraj N. Peter P.,
Wang ZhiTao T.,
Carpenter Leslie,
Blau Werner J.,
Boland John J.,
Hamilton James P.,
Coleman Jonathan N.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200702451
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , materials science , exfoliation joint , physisorption , solvent , dilution , solubility , mixing (physics) , graphite , nanotube , scanning tunneling microscope , chemical engineering , hildebrand solubility parameter , nanotechnology , chemical physics , organic chemistry , graphene , thermodynamics , composite material , chemistry , adsorption , polymer , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Spontaneous exfoliation of single‐walled carbon nanotubes on dilution of dispersions in a common solvent, N ‐methyl‐pyrrolidone, is demonstrated. The free‐energy of mixing is negative, confirming athermal solubility. Scanning tunneling microscopy measurements show physisorption of the solvent to the nanotube (see figure). Experiments, supported by a simple model, show that successful solvents for nanotubes are those with surface tensions close to that of graphite.