Progress Report

Carbon Nanotubes: Measuring Dispersion and Length

  1. Jeffrey A. Fagan1,*,
  2. Barry J. Bauer1,
  3. Erik K. Hobbie1,
  4. Matthew L. Becker1,‡,
  5. Angela R. Hight Walker2,
  6. Jeffrey R. Simpson1,§,
  7. Jaehun Chun1,¶,
  8. Jan Obrzut1,
  9. Vardhan Bajpai1,‖,
  10. Fred R. Phelan1,
  11. Daneesh Simien1,††,
  12. Ji Yeon Huh1,
  13. Kalman B. Migler1

Article first published online: 26 AUG 2010

DOI: 10.1002/adma.201001756

Issue

Advanced Materials

Advanced Materials

Special Issue: Polymer Science at NIST

Volume 23, Issue 3, pages 338–348, January 18, 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fagan, J. A., Bauer, B. J., Hobbie, E. K., Becker, M. L., Hight Walker, A. R., Simpson, J. R., Chun, J., Obrzut, J., Bajpai, V., Phelan, F. R., Simien, D., Huh, J. Y. and Migler, K. B. (2011), Carbon Nanotubes: Measuring Dispersion and Length. Adv. Mater., 23: 338–348. doi: 10.1002/adma.201001756

Author Information

  1. 1

    Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA

  2. 2

    Optical Technology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA

  1. ‡

    Present Address: Department of Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA

  2. §

    Present Address: Physics Department, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA

  3. Present Address: Pacific Northwest National Lab, 902 Battelle Blvd., P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352, USA

  4. ‖

    Present Address: Seldon Technologies Inc., Windsor, VT 05089, USA

  5. ††

    Present Address: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA

*Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 JAN 2011
  2. Article first published online: 26 AUG 2010
  3. Manuscript Received: 12 MAY 2010

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Abstract

Advanced technological uses of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) rely on the production of single length and chirality populations that are currently only available through liquid-phase post processing. The foundation of all of these processing steps is the attainment of individualized nanotube dispersions in solution. An understanding of the colloidal properties of the dispersed SWCNTs can then be used to design appropriate conditions for separations. In many instances nanotube size, particularly length, is especially active in determining the properties achievable in a given population, and, thus, there is a critical need for measurement technologies for both length distribution and effective separation techniques. In this Progress Report, the current state of the art for measuring dispersion and length populations, including separations, is documented, and examples are used to demonstrate the desirability of addressing these parameters.

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