Light Induced Aggregation of Specific Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that specific diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes can be selectively aggregated and separated using light exposure, enabling a new optical method for nanotube sorting without surfactants.

Contribution

It introduces a novel light-induced aggregation technique for separating specific SWNT diameters without chemical functionalization.

Findings

Aggregation increases linearly with light intensity.

Separated SWNTs show enrichment of specific diameters.

Method works under UV, visible, and NIR light.

Abstract

We report optically induced aggregation and consequent separation of specific diameter of pristine single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) from stable solution. Well dispersed solution of pristine SWNTs, without any surfactant or functionalization, show rapid aggregation by uniform exposure to UV, visible and NIR illumination. Optically induced aggregation linearly increases with consequent increase in the intensity of light. Aggregated SWNTs were separated from the dispersed supernatant and characterized using absorption and Raman spectroscopy. Separated SWNTs distinctly show enrichment of specific SWNTs under UV visible and NIR illumination.