Methods for removing polymer coatings from single-walled carbon nanotubes

摘要

Methods for removing polymer coatings from the surfaces of single-walled carbon nanotubes are provided. The methods remove polymer coatings that are used to selectively wrap and sort semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes from metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes. The methods are based on a process of detaching a polymer coatings by binding transition metal complexes to bi-pyridine repeat units within the polymer backbone.

主权项

1. A method for removing a polymer coating from semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes, the method comprising forming a solution comprising: (a) semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes coated with a polymer comprising bi-pyridine repeat units in its backbone; (b) a transition metal salt; and (c) a solvent, wherein the transition metal salt binds to the bi-pyridine units, causing the polymer to detach from the semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes.