Use of Neutron Activation Analysis for the Characterization of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Materials

Published

June 9, 2011

Author(s)

Rolf L. Zeisler, Rabia Oflaz, Rick L. Paul, Jeffrey A. Fagan

Abstract

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGAA) were used to characterize a variety of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) materials from different principal production processes, as well as a material containing SWCNTs together with other carbon species, catalyst residues, and trace element contaminants to be issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for characterization and distibution as Standard Reference Material SRM 2483 Carbon Nanotube Soot. INAA proved to be well suited for the direct determination of catalyst and contaminant trace elements requiring only minimal sample preparation. PGAA complemented the INAA data in particular with determinations of the light elements. Carbon and hydrogen results provided information on the materials purity and storage properties. Strategies for the quality assurance of the measurements in these new materials were developed. INAA and PGAA data were provided for the value assignment of mass fractions of catalyst and trace elements in the candidate SRM and a systematic overview was obtained of the catalyst and trace element contaminants associated with each of the major production routes.

Citation

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume

291

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

carbon nanotube production, catalysts, quality assurance, quantitative analysis, reference materials, trace elements

Citation

Zeisler, R. , Oflaz, R. , Paul, R. and Fagan, J. (2011), Use of Neutron Activation Analysis for the Characterization of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Materials, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (Accessed October 16, 2025)