Tromp R M, Afzali A, Freitag M, Mitzi D B, Chen Zh
IBM Research Division, T.J. Watson Research Center, P.O. Box 218, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, USA.
Nano Lett. 2008 Feb;8(2):469-72. doi: 10.1021/nl072437b. Epub 2008 Jan 23.
The problem of separating single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by diameter and/or chirality is one of the greatest impediments toward the widespread application of these promising materials in nanoelectronics. In this paper, we describe a novel physical-chemical method for diameter-selective CNT separation that is both simple and effective and that allows up-scaling to large volumes at modest cost. Separation is based on size-selective noncovalent matching of an appropriate anchor molecule to the wall of the CNT, enabling suspension of the CNTs in solvents in which they would otherwise not be soluble. We demonstrate size-selective separation in the 1-2 nm diameter range using easily synthesized oligo-acene adducts as a diameter-selective molecular anchor. CNT field effect transistors fabricated from diameter-selected CNTs show markedly improved electrical properties as compared to nonselected CNTs.
按直径和/或手性分离单壁碳纳米管（CNT）的问题是这些有前景的材料在纳米电子学中广泛应用的最大障碍之一。在本文中，我们描述了一种用于直径选择性CNT分离的新型物理化学方法，该方法既简单又有效，并且能够以适度的成本扩大到大规模生产。分离基于合适的锚定分子与CNT壁的尺寸选择性非共价匹配，从而使CNT能够悬浮在它们原本不溶的溶剂中。我们使用易于合成的低聚并苯加合物作为直径选择性分子锚，展示了在1-2纳米直径范围内的尺寸选择性分离。与未分选的CNT相比，由直径分选的CNT制造的CNT场效应晶体管显示出明显改善的电学性能。
