Claes-Henrik Andersson

The reagent-free, microwave-assisted purification of carbon nanotubes

We have developed a microwave-assisted, reagent-free method for the efficient primary purification of MW and SW carbon nanotubes that is extremely fast compared to previously reported processes. The treatment dissociates and disperses non-nanotube carbon in an organic solvent to yield very pure carbon nanotubes within a few minutes of heating and a simple filtration, without the involvement of acidic/oxidative reagents. According to thermogravimetric analysis, Raman and IR spectroscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, the process yields pure nanotubes with a low degree of defects.

Synthesis and Properties of Bis-Porphyrin Molecular Tweezers: Effects of Spacer Flexibility on Binding and Supramolecular Chirogenesis

Ditopic binding of various dinitrogen compounds to three bisporphyrin molecular tweezers with spacers of varying conformational rigidity, incorporating the planar enediyne (1), the helical stiff stilbene (2), or the semi-rigid glycoluril motif fused to the porphyrins (3), are compared. Binding constants Ka = 104–106 M−1 reveal subtle differences between these tweezers, that are discussed in terms of porphyrin dislocation modes. Exciton coupled circular dichroism (ECCD) of complexes with chiral dinitrogen guests provides experimental evidence for the conformational properties of the tweezers. The results are further supported and rationalized by conformational analysis.