DIRECTED FLOW METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BULK SEPARATION OF SINGLE-WALLED TUBULAR FULLERENES BASED ON HELICITY

摘要

A method for bulk separation of single-walled tubular fullerenes ( 100 ) based on helicity is provided wherein a solution or suspension of the single-walled tubular fullerenes ( 100 ) is flowed onto a crystalline or highly oriented substrate ( 30 ). The single-walled tubular fullerenes ( 100 ) that flow onto the substrate ( 30 ) have a respective longitudinal axis that is aligned with the flow direction ( 105 ). The direction of flow ( 105 ) is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to a lattice axis ( 24 ) of the substrate ( 30 ) for energetically favoring adsorption of a respective plurality of single-walled fullerenes ( 100 ) having a tubular contour and a selected helicity. Subsequently, the adsorbed single-walled tubular fullerenes ( 100 ) of the selected chirality are removed from the substrate ( 30 ).