Modified mixed chromatography method for separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes based on diameter and conductivity

Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are popular for their electrical conductivity properties with excellent metallic or semiconducting behavior. Selective separation of SWCNTs can play a significant role in the realization of the potential application of SWCNTs like energy conversion and storage, electronics and biomedical applications. Gel filtration is one of the most well-known and efficient large-scale separation techniques but still complex and lengthy. In this paper, we present a very simple, efficient, and low-cost method with only four column chromatography repetitions for separation of SWCNTs using both sephacryl and agarose gels. Our results demonstrate that the small diameter semiconducting (s-) SWCNTs are adsorbed more strongly to the sephacryl gel column, while large diameter s-SWCNTs adsorbed more strongly to the column with agarose gel. Comparative optical absorption spectra of the separated nanotubes and the reference reveal the effectiveness of the presented method.