Communication

Towards Solutions of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Common Solvents†

  1. Shane D. Bergin3,
  2. Valeria Nicolosi3,
  3. Philip V. Streich1,
  4. Silvia Giordani2,
  5. Zhenyu Sun3,
  6. Alan H. Windle4,
  7. Peter Ryan5,
  8. N. Peter P. Niraj5,
  9. Zhi-Tao T. Wang5,
  10. Leslie Carpenter6,
  11. Werner J. Blau2,
  12. John J. Boland5,
  13. James P. Hamilton1,*,
  14. Jonathan N. Coleman3,*

Article first published online: 21 APR 2008

DOI: 10.1002/adma.200702451

Issue

Advanced Materials

Advanced Materials

Volume 20, Issue 10, pages 1876–1881, May 19, 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bergin, S. D., Nicolosi, V., Streich, P. V., Giordani, S., Sun, Z., Windle, A. H., Ryan, P., Niraj, N. P. P., Wang, Z.-T. T., Carpenter, L., Blau, W. J., Boland, J. J., Hamilton, J. P. and Coleman, J. N. (2008), Towards Solutions of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Common Solvents. Advanced Materials, 20: 1876–1881. doi: 10.1002/adma.200702451

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville, WI 53818 (USA)

  2. 2

    School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin University of Dublin Dublin 2 (Ireland)

  3. 3

    Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin University of Dublin Dublin 2 (Ireland)

  4. 4

    Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy University of Cambridge Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ (UK)

  5. 5

    Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin University of Dublin Dublin 2 (Ireland)

  6. 6

    Dow Corning Corporation 3901 S. Saginaw Rd. Midland, MI 48640, (USA)

*Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville, WI 53818 (USA).

  1. †

    Supporting Information is available online from Wiley InterScience or from the authors.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 MAY 2008
  2. Article first published online: 21 APR 2008
  3. Manuscript Revised: 23 NOV 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 28 SEP 2007

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Keywords:

  • Single-walled carbon nanotubes;
  • Structure–property relationships;
  • Surfaces

Graphical Abstract

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Spontaneous exfoliation of single-walled carbon nanotubes on dilution of dispersions in a common solvent, N-methyl-pyrrolidone, is demonstrated. The free-energy of mixing is negative, confirming athermal solubility. Scanning tunneling microscopy measurements show physisorption of the solvent to the nanotube (see figure). Experiments, supported by a simple model, show that successful solvents for nanotubes are those with surface tensions close to that of graphite.

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