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Size Separation of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes by Flow-Field Flow Fractionation

Published

Author(s)

Jae H. Chun, Jeffrey A. Fagan, Erik K. Hobbie, Barry J. Bauer

Abstract

Flow-field flow fractionation (Flow-FFF) is used to separate single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) dispersed in aqueous medium by the use of DNA. On-line measurements are made of SWNT concentration, molar mass, and size by using UV-Vis absorption and multi-angle light scattering (MALS). Separations are made of both unfractionated SWNTs and SWNT fractions made by use of size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The SEC fractions are well resolved by Flow-FFF. SWNT hydrodynamic volume from calibrations with polymer latex particles in Flow-FFF are compared to calibrations of hydrodynamic volume from the SEC fractions derived from dissolved polymers. Rod lengths of the SWNTs are calculated from on-line measurements of MALS and those are compared to rod lengths from hydrodynamic models from latex sphere calibrations. Samples with varied sizes were prepared by fracturing SWNTs through extended sonication. Flow-FFF of these fractured samples shows very broad size distributions compared to SEC and Flow-FFF fractions.
Citation
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume
80

Keywords

flow-field flow fractionation, length separation, single wall carbon nanotubes, size exclusion chomatography

Citation

Chun, J. , Fagan, J. , Hobbie, E. and Bauer, B. (2008), Size Separation of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes by Flow-Field Flow Fractionation, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=852768 (Accessed April 25, 2024)
Created April 1, 2008, Updated February 19, 2017