Single-wall carbon nanotube compositions

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for sorting and separating a mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes according to (n, m) type. A mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes is suspended such that the single-wall carbon nanotubes are individually dispersed. The nanotube suspension can be done in a surfactant-water solution and the surfactant surrounding the nanotubes keeps the nanotube isolated and from aggregating with other nanotubes. The nanotube suspension is acidified to protonate a fraction of the nanotubes. An electric field is applied and the protonated nanotubes migrate in the electric fields at different rates dependent on their (n, m) type. Fractions of nanotubes are collected at different fractionation times. The process of protonation, applying an electric field, and fractionation is repeated at increasingly higher pH to separated the (n, m) nanotube mixture into individual (n, m) nanotube fractions. The separation enables new electronic devices requiring selected (n, m) nanotube types.

1 - 62 . (canceled)  
     
     
         63 . A material comprising a plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes, wherein the plurality comprises at least about 15% of the same (n, m) type where n is not equal to m.  
     
     
         64 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes comprises at least about 30% of the same (n, m) type where n is not equal to m.  
     
     
         65 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes comprises at least about 50% of the same (n, m) type where n is not equal to m.  
     
     
         66 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes comprises at least about 70% of the same (n, m) type where n is not equal to m.  
     
     
         67 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes comprises at least about 90% of the same (n, m) type where n is not equal to m.  
     
     
         68 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the single-wall carbon nanotubes are fashioned into a two-dimensional array.  
     
     
         69 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the single-wall carbon nanotubes are fashioned into a three-dimensional object.  
     
     
         70 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the single-wall carbon nanotubes are derivatized.  
     
     
         71 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein the single-wall carbon nanotubes are semiconducting.  
     
     
         72 . The material of  claim 71 , wherein the single-wall carbon nanotubes are a part of a sensor.  
     
     
         73 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein said material is embedded in a matrix material.  
     
     
         74 . The material of  claim 71 , wherein said matrix material is selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, metals, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         75 . The material of  claim 63 , wherein said material is dispersed in a suspending medium.  
     
     
         76 . The material of  claim 63  wherein the nanotubes of (n, m) type are selected from the group of (n, m) types consisting of (5,4), (6,4), (9,1), (8,3), (6,5), (7,5), (10,2), (9,4), (8,4), (7,6), (9,2), (12,1), (8,6), (11,3), (9,5), (10,3), (10,5), (11,1), (8,7), (13,2), (9,7), (12,4), (11,4), (12,2), (10,6), (11,6), (9,8), (15,1), (10,8), (13,5), (12,5), (13,3), and (10,9).