Novel purification procedure and derivatization method of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)

A new purification procedure is introduced, which uses the advantages of both, column-chromatography and vacuum-filtration. Potassium polyacrylate was used as a stationary phase. This method is based on the idea that the size of the existing cavities in the polymer increases during a swelling process in distilled water. The cavities are big enough to entrap nanoparticles, but allow for a free movement of nanotubes and bundles. The procedure starts with an oxidation step to remove part of catalyst and nanoparticles. In this step a chemical modification of the SWNTs occurs, namely the oxidation of cage carbon atoms to carboxylic groups as well as to hydroxyl- and carbonyl-groups. In contrast to Haddon, we use an alternative derivatziation of carboxylic acid groups in making amides in water. AFM images of the reaction products show clearly that the SWNTs have also been oxidized on their sidewalls