Separation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Use of Ionic Liquid-Aided Capillary Electrophoresis

This paper presents a simple, highly efficient method for analyzing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles based on (1) ultrasound-assisted solubilization/dispersion of SWNTs in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, (2) encapsulation of the nanotubes in sodium dodecyl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2008-04, Vol.80 (8), p.2672-2679
Main Authors: López-Pastor, M, Domínguez-Vidal, A, Ayora-Cañada, M. J, Simonet, B. M, Lendl, B, Valcárcel, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical chemistry
Chemistry
Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography
Electrolytes
Exact sciences and technology
Ions
Other chromatographic methods
Spectrometric and optical methods
Spectrum allocation
Studies
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Summary:This paper presents a simple, highly efficient method for analyzing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles based on (1) ultrasound-assisted solubilization/dispersion of SWNTs in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, (2) encapsulation of the nanotubes in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles, and (3) analysis by capillary electrophoresis. The process by which SWNTs disperse in the ionic liquid was studied by Raman spectroscopy. No degradation of SWNTs was observed under mild sonication conditions. The shape and position changes observed in the Raman spectral bands for the nanotubes are ascribed to debundling and interaction with the ionic liquid. Separation of solubilized SWNTs was accomplished by using a 50 mM formic acid solution at pH 2.0 as background electrolyte and a potential of −10 kV. Under these conditions, separation was completed within only 4 min. Eighteen peaks for SWNTs were identified in the analysis of commercial SWNT bundles. The two types of bundles studied exhibited distinct, highly characteristic electrophoretic profiles which could be used to control SWNTs purity.
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882
DOI:10.1021/ac701788r