Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T11:40:33.023Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Purification and Separation of Carbon Nanotubes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Get access

Abstract

The problems posed by the synthesis and purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have inhibited progress in the field. In this article, we review the methods available for measuring the purity of SWNTs and the current status of processes designed to purify them.We emphasize the hierarchy of the purification steps that must be developed in order to obtain high-quality material suitable for the full range of advanced applications that are envisioned for the ultimate carbon nanofiber.We review two strategies for SWNT purification, the assessment of SWNT purity by use of near-IR spectroscopy and its application to the thermal oxidation of thin films of SWNTs, as well as recent advances in the separation of metallic and semiconducting SWNTs. While substantial progress has been made in the purification and separation of SWNTs, we note the need for quality control and quality assurance within the industry. Much work remains before pure SWNTs of specific lengths, diameters, and chirality can be made available for applications.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Dresselhaus, M.S., Dresselhaus, G., and Avouris, P., eds., Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Structure, Properties and Applications (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Niyogi, S., Hamon, M.A., Hu, H., Zhao, B., Bhowmik, P., Sen, R., Itkis, M.E., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., Acc. Chem. Res. 35 (2002) p. 1105.CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+Acc.+Chem.+Res.35+(2002)+p.+1105.>Google Scholar
3. Dillon, A.C., Gennett, T., Jones, K.M., Alleman, J.L., Parilla, P.A., and type="authors">Heben, M.J., Adv. Mater. 11 (1999) p. 1354.3.0.CO;2-N>CrossRefHeben,+M.J.,+Adv.+Mater.11+(1999)+p.+1354.>Google Scholar
4. Journet, C., Maser, W.K., Bernier, P., Loiseau, A., Chappelle, M. Lamy de la, Lefrant, S., Deniard, P., Lee, R., and type="authors">Fischer, J.E., Nature 388 (1997) p. 756.CrossRefFischer,+J.E.,+Nature388+(1997)+p.+756.>Google Scholar
5. Liu, J., Rinzler, A.G., Dai, H., Hafner, J.H., Bradley, R.K., Boul, P.J., Lu, A., Iverson, T., Shelimov, K., Huffman, C.B., Rodriguez-Macias, F., Shon, Y.-S., Lee, T.R., Colbert, D.T., and type="authors">Smalley, R.E., Science 280 (1998) p. 1253.CrossRefSmalley,+R.E.,+Science280+(1998)+p.+1253.>Google Scholar
6. Rinzler, A.G., Liu, J., Dai, H., Nikolaev, P., Huffman, C.B., Rodriguez-Macias, F.J., Boul, P.J., Lu, A.H., Heymann, D., Colbert, D.T., Lee, R.S., Fischer, J.E., Rao, A.M., Eklund, P.C., and type="authors">Smalley, R.E., Appl. Phys. A 67 (1998) p. 29.CrossRefSmalley,+R.E.,+Appl.+Phys.+A67+(1998)+p.+29.>Google Scholar
7. Ebbesen, T.W., Ajayan, P.M., Hiura, H., and type="authors">Tanigaki, K., Nature 367 (1994) p. 519.CrossRefTanigaki,+K.,+Nature367+(1994)+p.+519.>Google Scholar
8. Nikolaev, P. (1996), unpublished report.Google Scholar
9. Chiang, I.W., Brinson, B.E., Smalley, R.E., Margrave, J.L., and type="authors">Hauge, R.H., J. Phys. Chem. B 105 (2001) p. 1157.CrossRefHauge,+R.H.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B105+(2001)+p.+1157.>Google Scholar
10. Chiang, I.W., Brinson, B.E., Huang, A.Y., Willis, P.A., Bronikowski, M.J., Margrave, J.L., Smalley, R.E., and type="authors">Hauge, R.H., J. Phys. Chem. B 105 (2001) p. 8297.CrossRefHauge,+R.H.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B105+(2001)+p.+8297.>Google Scholar
11. Moon, J.M., An, K.H., Lee, Y.H., Park, Y.S., Bae, D.J., and type="authors">Park, G.S., J. Phys. Chem. B 105 (2001) p. 5677.CrossRefPark,+G.S.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B105+(2001)+p.+5677.>Google Scholar
12. Jeong, T., Kim, W.-Y., and type="authors">Hahn, Y.-B., Chem. Phys. Lett. 344 (2001) p. 18.CrossRefHahn,+Y.-B.,+Chem.+Phys.+Lett.344+(2001)+p.+18.>Google Scholar
13. Hou, P., Liu, C., Tong, Y., Xu, S., Liu, M., and type="authors">Cheng, H., Mat. Res. 16 (2001) p. 2526.CrossRefCheng,+H.,+Mat.+Res.16+(2001)+p.+2526.>Google Scholar
14. Zhou, W., Ooi, Y.H., Russo, R., Papanek, P., Luzzi, D.E., Fischer, J.E., Bronikowski, M.J., Willis, P.A., and type="authors">Smalley, R.E., Chem. Phys. Lett. 350 (2001) p. 6.CrossRefSmalley,+R.E.,+Chem.+Phys.+Lett.350+(2001)+p.+6.>Google Scholar
15. Borowiak-Palen, E., Liu, X., Pichler, T., Knupfer, M., Graff, A., and type="authors">Fink, J., in AIP Conf. Proc. 633 (2002) p. 341.CrossRefFink,+J.,+in+AIP+Conf.+Proc.633+(2002)+p.+341.>Google Scholar
16. Harutyunyan, A.R., Pradhan, B.K., Chang, J., Chen, G., and type="authors">Eklund, P.C., J. Phys. Chem. B 106 (2002) p. 8671.CrossRefEklund,+P.C.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B106+(2002)+p.+8671.>Google Scholar
17. Zheng, B., Li, Y., and type="authors">Liu, J., Appl. Phys. A 74 (2002) p. 345.CrossRefLiu,+J.,+Appl.+Phys.+A74+(2002)+p.+345.>Google Scholar
18. Yang, C.-M., Kaneko, K., Yudasaka, M., and type="authors">Iijima, S., Physica B 323 (2002) p. 140.CrossRefIijima,+S.,+Physica+B323+(2002)+p.+140.>Google Scholar
19. Itkis, M.E., Perea, D., Niyogi, S., Rickard, S., Hamon, M., Hu, H., Zhao, B., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., Nano Lett. 3 (2003) p. 309.CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+Nano+Lett.3+(2003)+p.+309.>Google Scholar
20. Itkis, M.E., Niyogi, S., Meng, M., Hamon, M., Hu, H., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., NanoLett. 2 (2002) p. 155.CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+NanoLett.2+(2002)+p.+155.>Google Scholar
21. Ugawa, A., Rinzler, A.G., and type="authors">Tanner, D.B., Phys. Rev. B 60 (1999) p. R11305.CrossRefTanner,+D.B.,+Phys.+Rev.+B60+(1999)+p.+R11305.>Google Scholar
22. Kamaras, K., Itkis, M.E., Hu, H., Zhao, B., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., Science 301 (2003) p. 1501.CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+Science301+(2003)+p.+1501.>Google Scholar
23. Sen, R., Rickard, S.M., Itkis, M.E., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., Chem. Mater. 15 (2003) p. 4273.CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+Chem.+Mater.15+(2003)+p.+4273.>Google Scholar
24. Lebedkin, S., Hennrich, F., Skipa, T., and type="authors">Kappes, M., J. Phys. Chem. B 107 (2003) p. 1949.CrossRefKappes,+M.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B107+(2003)+p.+1949.>Google Scholar
25. Zimmerman, J.L., Bradley, R.K., Huffman, C.B., Hauge, R.H., and type="authors">Margrave, J.L., Chem. Mater. 12 (2000) p. 1361.CrossRefMargrave,+J.L.,+Chem.+Mater.12+(2000)+p.+1361.>Google Scholar
26. Duesberg, G.S., Muster, J., Krstic, V., Burghard, M., and type="authors">Roth, S., Appl. Phys. A 67 (1998) p. 117.CrossRefRoth,+S.,+Appl.+Phys.+A67+(1998)+p.+117.>Google Scholar
27. Duesberg, G.S., Blau, W., Byrne, H.J., Muster, J., Burghard, M., and type="authors">Roth, S., Synth. Met. 103 (1999) p. 2484.CrossRefRoth,+S.,+Synth.+Met.103+(1999)+p.+2484.>Google Scholar
28. Doorn, S.K., Fields, I.R.F., Hu, H., Hamon, M., Haddon, R.C., Selegue, J.P., and type="authors">Majidi, V., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 (2002) p. 3169.CrossRefMajidi,+V.,+J.+Am.+Chem.+Soc.124+(2002)+p.+3169.>Google Scholar
29. Chattopadhyay, D., Lastella, S., Kim, S., and type="authors">Papadimitrakopoulos, F., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 (2002) p. 728.CrossRefPapadimitrakopoulos,+F.,+J.+Am.+Chem.+Soc.124+(2002)+p.+728.>Google Scholar
30. Chen, B. and type="authors">Selegue, J.P., Anal. Chem. 74 (2002) p. 4774.CrossRefSelegue,+J.P.,+Anal.+Chem.74+(2002)+p.+4774.>Google Scholar
31. Farkas, E., Anderson, M. Elizabeth, Chen, Z., and type="authors">Rinzler, A.G., Chem. Phys. Lett. 363 (2002) p. 111.CrossRefRinzler,+A.G.,+Chem.+Phys.+Lett.363+(2002)+p.+111.>Google Scholar
32. Chen, J., Hamon, M.A., Hu, H., Chen, Y., Rao, A.M., Eklund, P.C., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., Science 282 (1998) p. 95.CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+Science282+(1998)+p.+95.>Google Scholar
33. Hamon, M.A., Chen, J., Hu, H., Chen, Y., Rao, A.M., Eklund, P.C., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., Adv. Mater. 11 (1999) p. 834.3.0.CO;2-R>CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+Adv.+Mater.11+(1999)+p.+834.>Google Scholar
35. Islam, M.F., Rojas, E., Bergey, D.M., Johnson, A.T., and type="authors">Yodh, A.G., Nano Lett. 3 (2003) p. 269.CrossRefYodh,+A.G.,+Nano+Lett.3+(2003)+p.+269.>Google Scholar
36. Appenzeller, J., Martel, R., Derycke, V., Radosavljevic, M., Wind, S., Neumayer, D., and type="authors">Avouris, P., Microelectron. Eng. 64 (2002) p. 391.CrossRefAvouris,+P.,+Microelectron.+Eng.64+(2002)+p.+391.>Google Scholar
37. Fan, S., Chapline, M.G., Franklin, N.R., Tomber, T.W., Cassell, A.M., Dai, H., Science 283 (1999) p. 512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38. Kong, J., Franklin, N.R., Zhou, C., Chapline, M.G., Peng, S., Cho, K., and type="authors">Dai, H., Science 287 (2000) p. 622.CrossRefDai,+H.,+Science287+(2000)+p.+622.>Google Scholar
39. Baughman, R.H., Cui, C., Zakhidov, A., Iqbal, Z., Barisci, J., Spinks, G.M., Wallace, G.W., Mazzoldi, A., Rossi, D. De, Rinzler, A.G., Jaschinski, O., Roth, S., and type="authors">Kertesz, M., Science 284 (1999) p. 1340.CrossRefKertesz,+M.,+Science284+(1999)+p.+1340.>Google Scholar
40. Ajayan, P.M., Adv. Mater. 7 (1995) p. 489.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41. Nikolaev, P., Bronikowski, M.J., Bradley, R.K., Rohmund, F., Colbert, D.T., Smith, K.A., and type="authors">Smalley, R.E., Chem. Phys. Lett. 313 (1999) p. 91.CrossRefSmalley,+R.E.,+Chem.+Phys.+Lett.313+(1999)+p.+91.>Google Scholar
42. Chattopadhyay, D., Galeska, I., and type="authors">Papadimitrakopoulos, F., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125 (2003) p. 3370.CrossRefPapadimitrakopoulos,+F.,+J.+Am.+Chem.+Soc.125+(2003)+p.+3370.>Google Scholar
43. Zheng, M., Jagota, A., Semke, E.D., Diner, B.A., McLean, R.S., Lustig, S.R., Richardson, R.E., and type="authors">Tassi, N.G., Nat. Mater. 2 (2003) p. 338.CrossRefTassi,+N.G.,+Nat.+Mater.2+(2003)+p.+338.>Google Scholar
44. Krupke, R., Hennrich, F., Lohneysen, H. v., and type="authors">Kappes, M.M., Science 301 (2003) p. 344.CrossRefKappes,+M.M.,+Science301+(2003)+p.+344.>Google Scholar
45. Strano, M.S., Dyke, C.A., Usrey, M.L., Barone, P.W., Allen, M.J., Shan, H., Kittrell, C., Hauge, R.H., Tour, J.M., and type="authors">Smalley, R.E., Science 301 (2003) p. 1519.CrossRefSmalley,+R.E.,+Science301+(2003)+p.+1519.>Google Scholar
46. Chen, Z., Du, X., Du, M.-H., Rancken, C.D., Cheng, H.-P., and type="authors">Rinzler, A.G., Nano Lett. 3 (2003) p. 1245.CrossRefRinzler,+A.G.,+Nano+Lett.3+(2003)+p.+1245.>Google Scholar
47. Saito, R., Fujita, M., Dresselhaus, G., and type="authors">Dresselhaus, M.S., Appl. Phys. Lett. 60 (1992) p. 2204.CrossRefDresselhaus,+M.S.,+Appl.+Phys.+Lett.60+(1992)+p.+2204.>Google Scholar
48. Pimenta, M.A., Marucci, A., Empedocles, S., Bawendi, M., Hanlon, E.B., Rao, A.M., Eklund, P.C., Smalley, R.E., Dresselhaus, G., and type="authors">Dresselhaus, M.S., Phys. Rev. B 58 (1998) p. R16016.CrossRefDresselhaus,+M.S.,+Phys.+Rev.+B58+(1998)+p.+R16016.>Google Scholar
49. Kataura, H., Kumazawa, Y., Maniwa, Y., Umezu, I., Suzuki, S., Ohtsuka, Y., and type="authors">Achiba, Y., Synth. Met. 103 (1999) p. 2555.CrossRefAchiba,+Y.,+Synth.+Met.103+(1999)+p.+2555.>Google Scholar
52. Chen, J., Rao, A.M., Lyuksyutov, S., Itkis, M.E., Hamon, M.A., Hu, H., Cohn, R.W., Eklund, P.W., Colbert, D.T., Smalley, R.E., and type="authors">Haddon, R.C., J. Phys. Chem. B 105 (2001) p. 2525.CrossRefHaddon,+R.C.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B105+(2001)+p.+2525.>Google Scholar
53. Kim, S.N., Chattopadhyay, D., and type="authors">Papadimitrakopoulos, F., unpublished manuscript.Papadimitrakopoulos,+F.,+unpublished+manuscript.>Google Scholar
54. Samsonidze, G.G., Chou, S.G., Santos, A.P., Selbst, A., Dresselhaus, G., Dresselhaus, M.S., Swan, A.K., Unlu, M.S., Goldberg, B.B., Chattopadhyay, K.D., and type="authors">Kim, S.N., Appl. Phys. Lett. (2003) submitted for publication.Kim,+S.N.,+Appl.+Phys.+Lett.+(2003)+submitted+for+publication.>Google Scholar
55. Pimenta, M.A., Empedocles, S.A., Bawendi, M.G., Hanlon, E.B., Rao, A.M., Eklund, P.C., Smalley, R.E., Dresselhaus, G., and type="authors">Dresselhaus, M.S., Phys. Rev. B 58 (1998) p. R16016.CrossRefDresselhaus,+M.S.,+Phys.+Rev.+B58+(1998)+p.+R16016.>Google Scholar
56. Kataura, H., Kumazawa, Y., Maniwa, Y., Umezu, I., Suzuki, S., Ohtsuka, Y., and type="authors">Achiba, Y., Synth. Met. 103 (1999) p. 2555.CrossRefAchiba,+Y.,+Synth.+Met.103+(1999)+p.+2555.>Google Scholar
57. Weisman, R.B., Nat. Mater. 2 (2003) p. 569.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
58. Li, G.D., Tang, Z.K., Wang, N., and type="authors">Chen, J.S., Carbon 40 (2002) p. 917.CrossRefChen,+J.S.,+Carbon40+(2002)+p.+917.>Google Scholar
59. Tang, Z.K., Sun, H.D., Wang, J., Chen, J., and type="authors">Li, G., Appl. Phys. Lett. 73 (1998) p. 2287.CrossRefLi,+G.,+Appl.+Phys.+Lett.73+(1998)+p.+2287.>Google Scholar
60. Sun, H.D., Tang, Z.K., Chen, J., and type="authors">Li, G., Appl. Phys. A 69 (1999) p. 381.CrossRefLi,+G.,+Appl.+Phys.+A69+(1999)+p.+381.>Google Scholar
61. Cheung, C.L., Kurtz, A., Park, H., and type="authors">Lieber, C.M., J. Phys. Chem. B 106 (2002) p. 2429.CrossRefLieber,+C.M.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B106+(2002)+p.+2429.>Google Scholar
62. Kataura, H., Kumazawa, Y., Maniwa, Y., Ohtsuka, Y., Sen, R., Suzuki, S., and type="authors">Achiba, Y., Carbon 38 (2000) p. 1691.CrossRefAchiba,+Y.,+Carbon38+(2000)+p.+1691.>Google Scholar
63. Lim, S., Ciuparu, D., Pak, C., Dobek, F., Chen, Y., Harding, D., Pfefferle, L., and type="authors">Haller, G., J. Phys. Chem. B 107 (2003) p. 11048.CrossRefHaller,+G.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B107+(2003)+p.+11048.>Google Scholar
64. Resasco, D.E., Alvarez, W.E., Pompeo, F., Balzano, L., Herrera, J.E., Kitiyanan, B., and type="authors">Borgna, A.A., J. Nanopart. Res. 4 (2002) p. 131.CrossRefBorgna,+A.A.,+J.+Nanopart.+Res.4+(2002)+p.+131.>Google Scholar
65. Ciuparu, D., Chen, Y., Lim, S., Haller, G.L., and type="authors">Pfefferle, L., J. Phys. Chem. B 108 (2004) p. 503.CrossRefPfefferle,+L.,+J.+Phys.+Chem.+B108+(2004)+p.+503.>Google Scholar
66. Hayashi, T., Kim, Y.A., Matoba, T., Esaka, M., Nishimura, K., Tsukada, T., Endo, M., and type="authors">Dresselhaus, M.S., Nano Lett. 3 (2003) p. 887.CrossRefDresselhaus,+M.S.,+Nano+Lett.3+(2003)+p.+887.>Google Scholar
67. Duxiao, J., Nongyue, H., Yuanying, Z., Chunxiang, X., Chunwei, Y., and type="authors">Zuhong, L., Mater. Chem. Phys. 69 (2001) p. 246.CrossRefZuhong,+L.,+Mater.+Chem.+Phys.69+(2001)+p.+246.>Google Scholar
68. Bandow, S., Asaka, S., Saito, Y., Rao, A.M., Grigorian, L., Richter, E., and type="authors">Eklund, P.C., Phys. Rev. Lett. 80 (1998) p. 3779.CrossRefEklund,+P.C.,+Phys.+Rev.+Lett.80+(1998)+p.+3779.>Google Scholar
69. Marin, C., Serrano, M.D., Yao, N., and type="authors">Ostrogorsky, A.G., Nanotechnology 13 (2002) p. 218.CrossRefOstrogorsky,+A.G.,+Nanotechnology13+(2002)+p.+218.>Google Scholar
70. Kiang, C.-H., J. Phys. Chem. A 104 (2000) p. 2454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar