A Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation Analysis of Carbon Nanotube Soot

Résumé du livre

Knowing the absolute amounts of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbonaceous impurities in commercial CNT soot is important for supporting and enabling advances in countless nanotechnology applications involving CNTs. However, the physiochemical characterization of CNTs and carbonaceous impurities in heterogeneous soot samples is very challenging because both components comprise sp 2 - and sp3 -hybridized carbons; in particular, CNTs with open ends and/or defect sides could possess sp3 -hybridization. Herein, we present the use of density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) to separate and quantify single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and nontubular carbon (NTC) impurities in CoMoCAT(TM) soot, and the development of protocols to analyze the DGU fractions. While a complete separation of SWNTs and NTCs could not be obtained, important discoveries were made. Primarily, CoMoCAT(TM) soot contains spherical fullerenes and graphite even though no prior reports have indicated the presence of these species in this material.