Single Walled Carbon Nanotube purification techniques evaluated by Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy, and Nanotube application in Gas Chromatography

Abstract

Understanding how purification steps affect single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is vital to further use of these nanotubes in other chemical techniques such as gas chromatography (GC), synthesis, probes, biosensors and high strength materials. When SWNTs are produced using arc discharge, they often contain contaminants such as amorphous carbon and additional functional groups, which must be removed using a multi-­‐step chemical purification process. Using Raman and IR spectroscopy together showed the effect that each step of chemical processing had on the carbon skeleton leading to a greater understanding of the production of purified carbon nanotubes. After purification, these SWNTs can be used to improve other chemistry techniques such as GC. Combining these SWNTs with ionic liquid for the stationary phase in GC, results in improved resolution of mixtures containing aromatics, alcohols and alkanes. After understanding exactly how purification affects SWNTs, these nanotubes can then be adapted to further improve chemistry techniques such as GC and many other uses.