Excimer laser-based purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Published

April 1, 2010

Author(s)

Katie Hurst, Elisabeth Mansfield, Anne Dillon, John H. Lehman

Abstract

Bulk purified carbon nanotube (CNT) material is essential for the realization of CNT applications including incorporating them into various composite materials. We have developed a laser-based purification technique for bulk single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) that selectively reduces carbon impurities from as-produced material.(1) Photochemical changes are characterized by Raman spectroscopy, and responsivity measurements of nanotube coated pyroelectric detectors. Differences in the reactivity of SWCNTs, graphite and amorphous carbon are compared by using quartz crystal microbalance. This method of in-situ measurement reduces our uncertainty that is attributable to environmental variables, such as relative humidity and temperature. We consider the influence of irradiance, ambient atmosphere and the wavelength of incident photons. At 248 nm, near the resonance of the pi plasmon, the interaction of laser light and carbon nanotube material exhibits a relatively high absorptivity. We discuss the importance of the SWCNT surface plasmon in the reduction of carbon impurities. (1) K. E. Hurst, A. C. Dillon, S. Yang, and J. H. Lehman J. Phys. Chem. C. 16296-16300 (112) 2008.

Conference Dates

April 5-9, 2010

Conference Location

San Fransisco, CO

Conference Title

MRS 2010 Spring Meeting

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

carbon nanotube, pi plasmon, excimer laser

Citation

Hurst, K. , Mansfield, E. , Dillon, A. and Lehman, J. (2010), Excimer laser-based purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes, MRS 2010 Spring Meeting, San Fransisco, CO (Accessed April 24, 2024)