Preparation and Separation of DNA-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes

Published

March 18, 2015

Author(s)

Geyou Ao, Ming Zheng

Abstract

Purification of single-chirality single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)from their synthetic mixture is a prerequisite for many applications. DNA-controlled carbon nanotube (CNT) purification has evolved over a decade along with other separation techniques utilizing different types of dispersing agents such as surfactants and polymers. The size of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) library provides practically unlimited ways of coating SWCNTs. Recent development in separating surfactant dispersed SWCNTs by polymer aqueous two-phase (ATP) extraction has enabled rapid and efficient SWCNT separation on a larger volume scale. Applying the ATP separation method to DNA-SWCNT hybrids opens a new route for effective sorting of nanotubes into each and every single-chirality species. Here, we report protocols for purifying as many as 15 single-chirality nanotube species from a synthetic mixture based on the separation of DNA-SWCNTs by the ATP method.

Citation

Current Protocols in Chemical Biology

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

carbon nanotube purification, ATP system, DNA sequences, single-chirality, modulating agents

Citation

Ao, G. and Zheng, M. (2015), Preparation and Separation of DNA-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes, Current Protocols in Chemical Biology (Accessed October 24, 2025)