Peter Boul

Reversible water-solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by polymer wrapping

Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been solubilized in water by non-covalently associating them with linear polymers, most successfully with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). This association is characterized by tight, uniform association of the polymers with the sides of the nanotubes. A general thermodynamic drive for this wrapping is discussed, wherein the polymer disrupts both the hydrophobic interface with water and the smooth tube–tube interactions in aggregates. The nanotubes can be unwrapped by changing the solvent system. This solubilization process opens the door to solution chemistry on pristine nanotubes, as well as their introduction into biologically relevant systems.

Roping and wrapping carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes can be dispersed into solvents by ultrasonication to the point that primarily individual tubes, cut to a few hundred nanometers in length, are present. However, when such dispersions are filtered to a thick mat, or paper, only tangles of uniform, seemingly endless ropes are observed. The factors contributing to this “roping” phenomenon, akin to aggregation or crystallization, will be discussed. We have developed methods for generating “super-ropes” more than twenty times the diameter of those formed by filtration, involving the extraction of nanotube material from an oleum dispersion. Nanotubes have been solubilized in water, largely individually, by non-covalently wrapping them with linear polymers. The general thermodynamic drive for this wrapping involves the polymer disrupting both the hydrophobic interface with water and the smooth tube-tube interaction in aggregates. The nanotubes can be recovered from their polymeric wrapping by changing their solvent system. This sol...