Fourth NIST Workshop on 

Carbon Nanotubes:

Chirality Measurements

Summary, Program and Abstracts

September 23 - 24, 2010

Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA

Organizing Committee

Stephen Freiman

Jeffrey A. Fagan

Stephanie Hooker

Kalman B. Migler

Angela R. Hight Walker

Ming Zheng

Polymers Division

NIST Special Publication 1133

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1133
NIST Special Publication 1133

Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes:

Chirality Measurements

Summary, Program and Abstracts

September 23-24, 2010

Polymers Division

Material Measurement Laboratory

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1133

January 2013

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Rebecca M. Blank, Acting Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Patrick D. Gallagher, Under Secretary for Standards and Technology and Director 
Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this

document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately.

Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the

National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the

entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. 

National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 1133

Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 1133, 28 pages (January 2013) 

CODEN: NSPUE2
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

Table of Contents

Summary 1

Agenda 3

Presentation Abstracts 5

Poster Abstracts 16

Organizing Committee

Stephen Freiman

Jeffrey A. Fagan

Stephanie Hooker

Kalman B. Migler

Angela R. Hight Walker

Ming Zheng

Hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology

September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

1

Summary

On September 23rd and 24th, 2010, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) hosted the 

fourth in a series of workshops addressing measurement needs for single wall carbon nanotubes 

(SWCNTs). Attendees representing an international community, including members of industry, 

academia, government laboratories, and regulatory agencies, participated in the workshop. The primary 

focus of this workshop was on SWCNT chirality population measurements and chirality-dependent 

properties.

The workshop consisted of three sessions. The first morning was devoted to presentations and 

discussion of an inter-laboratory study on various methods for determination of the chirality distribution 

of SWCNTs, which was conducted under the auspices of the Versailles Project on Advanced 

Measurements and Standards (VAMAS). Such measurements are critical for specifying the properties 

that can be expected from and the purity of nanotubes for commerce. These methods included tipenhanced Raman spectroscopy, fluorimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron 

microscopy (TEM). The material used in the inter-laboratory study was the Long fraction of a NIST 

reference material that will be publicly available for all purchasers to compare against (RM 8281, 

length-separated SWCNT populations). So far, 12 of the laboratories, representing seven countries, 

participating in this round robin have submitted results.

The early results of the inter-laboratory study show dramatically how different techniques and their level 

of difficulty affect the measured population distribution. The advantages and disadvantages of various 

techniques imply that continued caution is needed in interpreting population data. The results of the 

study will be published and used to enable techniques for the absolute determination of the SWCNT 

chiral vector distribution in a dispersed population.

The second session focused on techniques for chirality separation and selective synthesis. Most of these 

presentations dealt with advances in the methods for separating nanotube populations. Highlights were 

detailed discussion of three different techniques: density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU), agarose gel 

column chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography using sequence-selective DNA wrapping of 

the nanotubes. Specifically, Mark Hersam described advances in density gradient centrifugation that 

could be used to create samples of 98 % to 99 % pure SWCNT populations. He additionally discussed a 

number of new nanotube-based devices that could result from this separation technique. Hiromichi 

Kataura presented a multi-stage chirality separation via a gel-filtration method that enables sequential 

isolation of all the small-diameter semiconducting chiralities in a HiPco sample. Xiaomin Tu presented 

the technique of sequence-selective DNA-based chirality separation, and new work supporting the DNA 

structure – selectivity hypothesis. As presented by Nathan Yoder of Nanointegris corp., the cost of 

separated SWCNTs, and ultimately the cost of any application derived from these nanotubes, is critically 

dependent on the ability of the separation technologies to produce them in the needed chiralities and 

sizes in sufficiently large quantities.

Separately, R. Mohan Sankaran and Sivaram Arepalli both talked about methods for influencing the 

distribution of synthesized nanotubes. These included control of the catalyst size and synthesis 

conditions. Results presented showed that these variables can shift the synthesized population of 

nanotubes, and may lessen the need for post-production separation techniques.

The final session was devoted to applications that are enabled by chirality-separated SWCNT 

populations. These included field-effect transistors, thin-film solar devices (Jeffrey Blackburn and 

Michael Arnold), and nano-therapeutics and combined targeting / bioimaging agents (Hongjie Die and 
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

2

Shawn Chen). It was also noted that the purification of single nanotube species is allowing the study of 

previously intractable photophysical measurements (Stephen Doorn).

The talks on the second day also acknowledged a reality brought up in the earlier session: Although 

there have been significant advances in separation technologies for large-scale production of different 

nanotube populations, significant efforts toward rapid quality control are still necessary to 

commercialize advanced applications. Similarly, there was discussion about the need for improved 

capabilities for specification of the chiral purity in samples for various electronic applications. There 

was a consensus that ability to specify the semiconducting purity to several decimal places is needed, 

with five 9’s (99.999 %) or more being desirable. However, the difficulties that have been encountered 

in this specification are not just in the removal of intransigent impurity species, but also the missing 

ability to rapidly screen materials and identify contaminating species. A lack of tools was specifically 

identified for separation of chiralities with diameters larger than 1 nm.

Conclusions

Although only a few short years have passed since the previous nanotube workshop at NIST, 

tremendous progress has been made in the separation and utilization of different SWCNT chiralities and 

populations. Despite the economic climate, industrial production and use of purified and controlled 

nanotube populations has emerged to bridge the gap between material science and applied products.

The participants in this workshop were uniformly enthusiastic about nanostructured carbon materials 

and share the opinion that chiral separation techniques and measurement procedures are important areas 

for continuing work. Although participants were excited about the progress in isolation of specific 

nanotube functionalities, the continuing obstacle to the development of many nanotube-based electronics 

and the highest technological applications is the limited availability of single-chirality SWCNTs in 

sufficient volumes.

The exciting progress of nanotube science and technologies in the last few years has not eliminated the 

need for advanced measurement science, but is pushing it in new directions for more advanced control 

and rapid screening, that will result in new capabilities and applications of nanotube materials.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

3

Agenda

Thursday, September 23, 2010

8:15 am Transportation from Hilton to NIST

8:30 Registration and Coffee

9:00 Introduction: Kalman Migler

9:15 NIST Welcome: Katharine Gebbie, Director, Physics Laboratory

Session 1: Interlaboratory Comparison of Chirality Measurements

Session Chair, Jeffrey Fagan

9:30 Jeffrey Fagan, NIST

An Overview and Goals for Improving Chiral Vector Distribution Determination through 

VAMAS TWA 34

9:55 Deb Roy, (NPL, England) 

Prospects and Challenges in Characterising SWCNTs Using Tip-Enhanced Raman 

Spectroscopy

10:20 Break

10:45 Bruce Weisman (Rice University)

Progress in Optical Spectroscopic Analysis of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes

11:10 Erlon Ferreira (INMETRO)

Resonance Raman RBM Intensity Analysis of the NIST sample RM 8281 Long Fraction

11:35 Hua Jiang (Aalto University, Finland)

Electron Microscopy Measurement of the Chirality Distribution in a Single-Walled 

Carbon Nanotube Sample for the VAMAS TWA-34 Project of NIST

12:00 pm Discussion of results and future directions

12:30 Lunch (NIST Cafeteria)

Session 2: Chirality Separation and Selective Synthesis

Session Chair, Angela Hight-Walker

1:30 Keynote Lecture

Ado Jorio de Vasconcelos (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil)

The Application of Raman spectroscopy to the Metrology of Carbon Nanotubes

2:10 Mark Hersam (Northwestern Univ.)

Fundamentals and Applications of Monodisperse Carbon-Based Nanomaterials

2:35 Hiromichi Kataura (AIST, Japan)

Chirality Separation by Gel-Filtration Method

3:00 Break

3:25 R. Mohan Sankaran (Case Western Reserve Univ.)

The Role of Composition-Dependent Catalyst Structure on Chirality Distributions of AsGrown SWCNTs
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

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September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

5

3:50 Nathan Yoder (Nanointegris)

Large-Scale Production of Monodisperse Carbon Nanomaterials at NanoIntegris

4:15 Helen Tu (NIST)

Understanding the DNA-Based Carbon Nanotube Chirality Separation

4:40 Discussion

5:00 Poster Session + Reception in Hall of Flags, NIST

6:30 Transportation to Hilton

Friday, September 24, 2010

8:15 am Transportation to NIST

8:30 Coffee

Session 3: Measurements and Applications of Chirality Separated SWCNTs

Session Chair, Ming Zheng

9:00 Hongjie Dai (Stanford Univ.)

Carbon Nanotubes for Nanoelectronics and Nanobiotechnolgy 

9:25 Jeffrey Blackburn (NREL)

Performance of Type-separated Single-wall Carbon Nanotubes in Energy Conversion 

Schemes: Charge Transfer and Transport

9:50 Stephen Doorn (LANL)

Resonance Raman Studies of Chirality-Enriched Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

10:15 Break

10:40 Shawn Chen (NIH/NIBIB)

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

11:05 Michael Arnold (Univ. of Wisconsin)

Exploiting Chirality-Controlled Carbon Nanotubes to Directly Harvest Light and Energy 

via a Photovoltaic Effect on a Macroscopic Scale

11:30 Sivaram Arepalli (Sungkyunkwan University, Korea)

Growth and Separation of Chirality Controlled SWCNTs

12:00 pm Working Lunch in AML (Future plans, output, next workshop, etc.) 

1:00 Adjourn

NIST Laboratory Tours: Please signup if interested
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

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Presentation Abstracts

AN OVERVIEW AND GOALS FOR IMPROVING CHIRAL VECTOR DISTRIBUTION DETERMINATION 

THROUGH VAMAS TWA 34

Jeffrey A. Fagan

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Polymers Division, Gaithersburg, 

MD 20899

jeffrey.fagan@nist.gov

The ability to rapidly and easily determine the chiral vector distribution within 

a nanotube population is a key measurement need for carbon nanotube 

processing and applications. Under the auspices of technical working area 

(TWA) 34, Nanoparticle Populations, of the Versailles Project on Advanced 

Materials and Standards (VAMAS) a round robin measurement of the chirality distribution of a single, 

purified, single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) source material is being conducted. The goal of this 

round robin is to provide a basis for comparison between different measurement methodologies, 

measurement types and laboratories implementations, of the chirality specification for a given sample.

Preliminary results from multiple orthogonal techniques for measuring the chiral vector distribution will 

be discussed in this session. An overview of the goals for discussion of these results, and the 

incorporation of the data to standards activities will be presented.

PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES IN CHARACTERISING SWCNTS USING TIP-ENHANCED 

RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

Deb Roy

National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington TW11 0LW, UK

debdulal.roy@npl.co.uk

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a novel technique having the high spatial resolution of an 

atomic force microscopy (AFM) and chemical specificity of Raman spectroscopy to achieve high 

resolution chemical and structural information (Roy, Wang and Welland 2006). Enhancement factor and 

spatial resolution are two of the most important metrological parameters that define the quality of a 

TERS measurement (Roy, Wang and Williams 2009). The technique has been used to image single 

SWCNTs as well as characterise their structures. First part of the talk will briefly describe the technique, 

its application on studying isolated SWCNTs, perceived metrology challenges to obtained reproducible 

measurements. The second part will address the steps towards chiral characterisation of isolated tubes by 

combining AFM and Raman spectroscopic investigations. Measurements obtained on the VAMAS 

sample from NIST will also be presented.

References:

Roy, D., J. Wang and M. Welland (2006). "Nanoscale Imaging of Carbon Nanotubes using Tip Enhanced Raman 

Spectroscopy in Reflection Mode." Faraday Discussions 132: 215-225.

Roy, D., J. Wang and C. Williams (2009). "Novel methodology for estimating the enhancement factor for tipenhanced Raman spectroscopy." Journal of Applied Physics 105(1).
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

7

PROGRESS IN OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

R. Bruce Weisman

Rice University, Houston, Texas USA

Recent progress will be discussed in the development of optical spectroscopies to analyze bulk samples 

of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Since the 2002 discovery and spectral assignment of 

near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence from semiconducting SWCNTs, optical absorption and emission 

methods have emerged as powerful tools for detailed nanotube structural analysis. Although these 

methods provide secure qualitative (n,m) identification, the quantitative determination of (n,m) 

distributions requires knowledge of structure-dependent absorptivities and/or emissive quantum yields.

Calibrated photometric measurements on selected individual nanotubes have now provided absolute 

intrinsic values of fluorescence action cross sections for 31 different semiconducting (n,m) species.

Structural patterns in these values have been deduced and used to extrapolate fluorescence action cross 

sections for additional species. This set of empirically-based sensitivity factors now allows quantitative 

fluorimetric determination of semiconducting (n,m) distributions in bulk SWCNT samples. 

Advances have also been made in specialized optical instrumentation for efficient SWCNT analysis.

Highly sensitive multi-mode spectrometers are now available with four discrete laser wavelengths for 

exciting NIR fluorescence, absorption capability in the visible and NIR regions, and single-wavelength 

Raman spectrometry. Updated data analysis software deduces (n,m) distributions (using the new 

sensitivity factors) and automatically compares spectrally integrated fluorescence emission to sample 

absorbance at the excitation wavelength to give a relative measure of fluorescence efficiency. This 

efficiency parameter provides insights into sample dispersion and condition. By mounting the sample 

holder on a computer-controlled vertical translation stage, the multi-mode spectrometer can perform in 

situ spectral mapping of undisturbed sample tubes used for density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) 

of SWCNT samples. 

Our spectral mapping method has allowed the development of DGU with nonlinear gradients that are 

tailored for improved (n,m) sorting. HiPco samples have been processed to give fractions enriched in 

ten different (n,m) species and also for separation of seven pairs of SWCNT enantiomers. The 

availability of such sorted and purified SWCNT samples is a key step in enabling more detailed 

spectroscopic and photophysical studies. One new application is an investigation of the broad 

backgrounds seen in SWCNT absorption spectra. Using a combination of sorted and unsorted samples, 

we identify and in some cases quantify background contributions from amorphous carbon, chemical 

functionalization, spectral congestion, aggregation, sonication-induced damage, and metallic species.

These findings should enhance the value of optical spectroscopic analysis of SWCNT samples.

RESONANCE RAMAN RBM INTENSITY ANALYSIS OF THE NIST SAMPLE RM 8281 LONG FRACTION

Erlon Ferreira

Brazilian National Institute of Metrology

Here we present a methodology and the results of an intensity analysis of the Resonance Raman radial 

breathing mode (RBM) signal of the single wall carbon nanotube sample in order to determine its 

diameter and chirality distribution. The method consists of correcting the obtained RBM signal by the 

Resonance Raman cross-section, as calibrated by the "super-growth" water assisted chemical vapor 

deposition (CVD) sample.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

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ELECTRON MICROSCOPY MEASUREMENT OF THE CHIRALITY DISTRIBUTION IN A SINGLE-WALLED 

CARBON NANOTUBE SAMPLE FOR THE VAMAS TWA-34 PROJECT OF NIST

Hua Jiang

Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto Finland

Presented in this contribution are results of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) chirality 

distribution determination from a round robin sample for the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials 

and Standards Technical Working Area 34 (VAMAS TWA 34), which is initiated to provide correlation 

between the absolute distribution of chiralities present in the sample and the more easily measured 

properties of the sample.

The measurements were carried out by using electron diffraction and high-resolution imaging techniques 

in an aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope (TEM). The length sorted SWCNT sample 

was received in an aqueous 10 g/L sodium deoxycholate solution. For TEM observation, a drop of the 

original SWCNT solution was casted onto a standard TEM grid and dried naturally. Then, the grid is 

washed carefully using acetone, SWCNTTGF, ethanol, and D.I. water to wash the surfactant away from 

the surface of the nanotubes.

A large number of electron diffraction patterns (EDPs) and high-resolution TEM images were taken 

from the sample. From the EDP of an individual SWCNT, the absolute determination of the chiral 

vector of the nanotube can be obtained. From the EDP of a bundle of SWCNTs, chiral angle distribution 

in the bundle can be analyzed. For those SWCNTs which are too short, or not isolated enough for decent 

electron diffraction analysis, aberration-corrected high-resolution TEM imaging technique is applied to 

accurately measure the diameter distribution in the SWCNT population. At last, a combined statistic 

result is provided which represents a corner of the round-robin measurements for chirality distribution 

determination.

THE APPLICATION OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY TO THE METROLOGY OF CARBON NANOTUBES

Ado Jorio

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

This talk reviews 10 years of research on the Raman spectroscopy of carbon nanotubes, with focus on 

the metrological aspects. The (n,m) assignment, including population analysis will be addressed, with 

attention to sample comparison and environmental effects. The role of standards is discussed as means 

to reach deep theoretical understanding of the environmental and (n,m) dependence of the optical 

properties in general, which can also be applied to photoluminescence and optical absorption 

characterization. If possible I will discuss also how graphene is helping us to understand the defectinduced Raman features in sp2 nanocarbons.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

9

FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS OF MONODISPERSE CARBON-BASED NANOMATERIALS

Mark C. Hersam

Northwestern University

http://www.hersam-group.northwestern.edu/

Carbon-based nanomaterials have attracted significant attention due to their potential to enable and/or 

improve applications such as transistors, transparent conductors, solar cells, batteries, water purification 

systems, infrastructure materials, drug delivery, and biosensors [1,2]. This talk will delineate chemical 

strategies for tuning and enhancing the properties of these promising nanomaterials. For example, we 

have developed [3,4] and commercialized [5] a scalable technique for sorting single-walled carbon 

nanotubes (SWCNTs) by their physical and electronic structure using density gradient 

ultracentrifugation (DGU). The resulting monodisperse SWCNTs possess unprecedented uniformity in 

their electronic and optical properties, which enables the fabrication of high performance thin film fieldeffect transistors [6-8], optoelectronic devices [6,9], and transparent conductors [10]. The DGU 

technique also enables multi-walled carbon nanotubes to be sorted by the number of walls [11], and 

solution phase graphene to be sorted by thickness [12,13], thus expanding the suite of monodisperse 

carbon-based nanomaterials. By recently extending our DGU efforts to SWCNTs and graphene 

dispersed in biocompatible polymers (e.g., DNA, poloxamers, etc.), new opportunities have emerged in 

biomedical applications [14,15]. Ultimately, the ability to control structure and surface chemistry with 

sub-nanometer precision enables optimized properties for a diverse range of technologies that employ 

carbon-based nanomaterials.

[1] M. C. Hersam, Nature Nanotechnology, 3, 387 (2008).

[2] J. Liu and M. C. Hersam, MRS Bulletin, 35, 315 (2010).

[3] M. S. Arnold, et al., Nature Nanotechnology, 1, 60 (2006).

[4] A. A. Green, et al., Nano Research, 2, 69 (2009).

[5] http://www.nanointegris.com/

[6] M. Engel, et al., ACS Nano, 2, 2445 (2008).

[7] L. Nougaret, et al., Applied Physics Letters, 94, 243505 (2009).

[8] M. Ha, et al., ACS Nano, 4, 4388 (2010).

[9] S. Essig, et al., Nano Letters, 10, 1589 (2010).

[10] A. A. Green and M. C. Hersam, Nano Letters, 8, 1417 (2008).

[11] A. A. Green and M. C. Hersam, Nature Nanotechnology, 4, 64 (2009).

[12] A. A. Green and M. C. Hersam, Nano Letters, 9, 4031 (2009).

[13] A. A. Green and M. C. Hersam, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 1, 544 (2010).

[14] G. M. Mutlu, et al., Nano Letters, 10, 1664 (2010).

[15] A. L. Antaris, et al., ACS Nano, 4, 4725 (2010).
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

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SEPARATION OF SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBES BY GEL CHROMATOGRAPHY

H. Kataura,1,2 H. Liu,1,2 D. Nishide,1,2 S. Fujii,1,2 Y. Feng,1,2 Y. Urabe,1,2 and T. Tanaka1

1

Nanosystem Research Institute, AIST, Tsukuba 305-8562, Japan

2

JST, CREST, Japan

h-kataura@aist.go.jp

For the electronic device applications of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), mixed production of 

metal and semiconductor phases was one of the most serious problems because they show completely 

different transport properties. It is known that density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) technique can 

separate metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs with high purity [1]. However, the separation process is 

so complicated and the scale up is difficult because of the limited rotor capacity. For the industrial 

application, more effective separation method was desired. Recently, we found a specific interaction 

between semiconducting SWCNT and agarose, and developed new separation methods using agarose 

gel [2-4]. These methods realized high purity separation with low cost, high speed, and high efficiency.

In the latest separation method, we used only agarose gel beads and two surfactants, sodium dodecyl 

sulfate (SDS) for metallic SWCNTs and sodium deoxycholate (DOC) for semiconducting SWCNTs.

Figure 1 shows the schematic pictures of the separation. The separation procedure is very simple and 

can be repeated for many times. In this presentation, we will show the recent progress of our separation 

methods. 

[1] M. S. Arnold et al, Nat. Nanotechnol. 1 (2006) 60.

[2] T. Tanaka et al., Appl. Phys. Express 1 (2008) 114001.

[3] T. Tanaka et al., Nano Lett. 9 (2009) 1497.

[4] T. Tanaka et al., Appl. Phys. Express 2 (2009) 125002.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

11

LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION OF MONODISPERSE CARBON NANOMATERIALS AT NANOINTEGRIS

Dr. Nathan Yoder

NanoIntegris Inc, 8025 Lamon Ave, Suite 043, Skokie, IL 60077, nyoder@nanointegris.com

(www.nanointegris.com)

Large-scale production of high purity carbon-based 

nanomaterials has the potential to enable or improve 

many applications, and to open new directions of 

academic research [1]. Recently, the Hersam Group 

developed a scalable and flexible technique for sorting single walled carbon nanotubes by their physical 

and electronic structure using density gradient ultracentrifugation [2]. NanoIntegris was founded in 

January 2007 to commercialize this breakthrough technology and make these materials available in large 

quantities to academic and industrial researchers. During the past 3 years, NanoIntegris has dramatically 

scaled up production capacity and lowered costs to meet broad and growing global demand for high 

performance nanomaterials. Today, NanoIntegris supplies materials to over 100 organizations around 

the world ranging from world-class universities to Fortune 100 companies. Highlights of recent 

academic journal articles using DGU material will be presented, along with recent progress in the scaleup and commercialization of other nanomaterials at NanoIntegris.

[1] M.C. Hersam, Nature Nanotechnology, 3, 387 (2008).

[2] M.S. Arnold, et al., Nature Nanotechnology, 1, 60 (2006).

UNDERSTANDING THE DNA-BASED CARBON NANOTUBE CHIRALITY SEPARATION

Xiaomin Tu

Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0854

xiaomin.tu@nist.gov

We have demonstrated in the past that specific DNA can be for the purification of all 12 major 

semiconducting single-chirality species from a synthetic mixture. We have been investigating the 

separation mechanism using both experimental and computational approaches. Fluorescence 

spectroscopy was found to be a sensitive tool to probe the DNA structure on the nanotube, which 

revealed strong DNA length-dependency of the fluorescence intensity for the recognition sequence 

motif. Molecular dynamics study suggested DNA wrapping structure involving a novel secondary DNA 

structure motif. Based on such model, we could predict other sequence motif that may support singlechirality tube enrichment.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

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THE ROLE OF COMPOSITION-DEPENDENT CATALYST STRUCTURE ON CHIRALITY DISTRIBUTIONS 

OF AS-GROWN SWCNTS

R. Mohan Sankaran

Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

The exemplary physiochemical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are largely 

determined by their diameter and chiral angle, specified as chiral indices (n,m). Despite the significant 

progress that has been made in purifying mixtures of SWCNTs to obtain monodisperse samples (in 

terms of chirality), large-scale applications require improvements in the homogeneity of as-grown 

SWCNTs. Recent reports have shown that a potential route to controlling the chirality distribution of 

SWCNTs during growth is through catalyst design [1,2]. In this talk, we present our approach which is 

based on tuning the catalyst composition, independent of size, to perturb the catalyst structure and 

ultimately influence the SWCNT chirality.

1. Harutyunyan et al., Science 326, 116 (2009). 

2. Chiang et al., Nature Mater. 8, 882 (2009).

CARBON NANOTUBES FOR NANOELECTRONICS AND NANOBIOTECHNOLGY

Hongjie Dai

Department of Chemistry, Stanford University

This talk will present our work on using carbon nanotubes for nanoelectronics and biological 

applications. I will present progress and hurdles in both these areas. 

We have combined both controlled nanotube synthesis and chemical separation towards single-chirality 

SWCNT samples for electronics applications. A major goal in the nanotube electronics area has been 

obtaining pure semiconducting SWCNTs with a single-chirality, forming parallel arrays of them, and 

producing devices such as transistor arrays on large substrates.

Carbon nanotubes exhibit many unique intrinsic physical and chemical properties and have been 

intensively explored for biological and biomedical applications in the past few years. In this talk, I will 

summarize the main results from our and other groups in this field. Ultrasensitive detection of biological 

species with carbon nanotubes can be realized. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of carbon 

nanotubes opens up a method of protein microarray with detection sensitivity down to 1 fmol/L. In vitro 

and in vivo toxicity studies reveal that highly water soluble and serum stable nanotubes are 

biocompatible, nontoxic, and potentially useful for biomedical applications. Carbon nanotube-based 

drug delivery has shown promise in various in vitro and in vivo experiments including delivery of drugs.

Moreover, single-walled carbon nanotubes with various interesting intrinsic optical properties have been 

used as novel photoluminescence, Raman, and photoacoustic contrast agents for imaging of cells and 

animals.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

13

PERFORMANCE OF TYPE-SEPARATED SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBES IN 

ENERGY CONVERSION SCHEMES: CHARGE TRANSFER AND TRANSPORT

Jeff Blackburn, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO

Co-authors: Josh Holt, Kevin Mistry, Brian Larsen, John-David Rocha, Andrew Ferguson, Nikos 

Kopidakis, Drazenka Svedruzic, Paul King, Garry Rumbles

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have several fundamental properties that make them attractive 

for sustainable energy conversion technologies, including high electron and hole mobilities, size-tunable 

ionization potentials and electron affinities in an energy range relevant to many photovoltaic devices, 

and optical transitions in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions. Additionally, they possess 

numerous properties amenable to practical, scalable, and economic device fabrication including 

abundant source material, a natural disposition for solution processing, high surface area for efficient 

charge transfer, and flexibility. Current projects in our group are aimed at understanding the 

functionality of SWCNTs in energy conversion technologies where the nanotubes are used to collect and 

transport charges, and how this functionality varies with SWCNT electronic structure. This presentation 

will focus on two recent studies. In the first study, we use SWCNTs as interfacial materials to 

electronically couple a bulk carbon electrode to immobilized hydrogenase enzymes for hydrogen 

production or oxidation. We demonstrate (1) that SWCNT networks serve as high surface area electroactive scaffolds to which high densities of nano-scale catalysts may be immobilized, and (2) that the 

SWCNTs perform as molecular wires, efficiently transporting carriers from bulk electrodes to the 

immobilized catalysts. Furthermore, electrodes prepared with type-enriched SWCNTs show markedly 

improved hydrogen oxidation/production current densities when enriched with metallic SWCNTs (mSWCNTs). We achieve proton reduction (hydrogen production) and hydrogen oxidation current 

densities in the range of several mA/cm2 with m-SWCNT enriched electrodes, a significant 

improvement over previous hydrogenase-based electrodes. 

The second study involves the incorporation of SWCNTs into the active layer of organic photovoltaic 

(OPV) cells as replacements for the electron accepting fullerene phase. Although replacement of the 

ubiquitous fullerene acceptors by SWCNTs in OPV devices has shown limited success thus far, the 

number of fundamental investigations of charge transfer between SWCNTs and conjugated polymers is 

rather low. It is often assumed (1) that photo-induced charge separation occurs at the interface between 

SWCNTs and certain conducting polymers, and (2) that m-SWCNTs should limit the generation 

efficiency and/or lifetime of the charge-separated state. A consideration of the continuous density of 

states (lack of a true gap) for m-SWCNTs suggests these species should act as recombination centers 

when interfaced with conducting polymers. To address these points, we use time-resolved microwave 

conductivity, (TRMC) to probe the generation efficiency and lifetime of charge separation due to the 

inherent sensitivity of TRMC to free and mobile charge carriers. We first demonstrate photo-induced 

electron transfer from poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) to SWCNTs for bulk heterojunctions made with 

un-enriched SWCNTs. Next, we discuss TRMC results on SWCNT/P3HT bulk heterojunctions 

containing varying proportions of s- and m-SWCNTs. These studies demonstrate that the proportion of 

long-lived carriers produced by charge separation can be significantly increased by eliminating the 

metallic species. 

These studies demonstrate the potential utility of SWCNTs in next generation energy conversion 

schemes and encourage further optimization of these technologies through enrichment of particular 

electronic structures.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

14
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

15

RESONANCE RAMAN STUDIES OF CHIRALITY-ENRICHED SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

Stephen K. Doorn1, Juan G. Duque1, Svetlana Kilina1, Sergei Tretiak1, Andy Shreve1, Hang Chen2, 

Anna Swan2, Xiaomin Tu3, Ming Zheng3

1

Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

2

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215

3

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8540

The growing access to nanotube samples that are highly enriched in single chiralities is enabling new 

photophysical measurements previously impossible at the ensemble level due to spectral congestion 

from the overlapping responses of different species. In particular, probing chirality-defined electronic 

behaviors uniquely accessible through resonance Raman spectroscopy of the nanotube G-band requires 

working at either the single tube level or with ensemble samples highly enriched in a single type of tube 

structure. We present Raman measurements on such enriched ensemble samples from DNA wrappingbased ion exchange chromatography. Characterization data demonstrating the high level of singlechirality enrichment in these samples will be shown. We also present resonance window behavior of Gband spectra for several single chirality semiconducting species. The Raman excitation profiles at 

resonance with the E22 transitions allow testing of different models for the Raman scattering process.

Strong asymmetries in the profiles reveal new evidence for the importance of non-Condon effects in the 

Raman response. Results will be discussed in the context of theoretical models that suggest significant 

coordinate dependence in the transition dipole and phonon-mediated state mixing. Quantum interference 

between the higher lying E33 and E44 transitions for selected chiralities is also probed using UV 

resonance Raman at energies up to 3.6 eV. The novel behaviors of relative LO and TO Raman mode 

intensities and their excitation profiles are discussed in terms of both Raman interference effects and 

state mixing.

SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES FOR CANCER IMAGING AND THERAPY

Xiaoyuan (Shawn) Chen

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

Single-walled carbon nanotubes have very unique physicochemical properties suitable for molecular 

imaging and therapy. This presentation will discuss how to render carbon nanotubes water-soluble and 

biocompatible, how to load targeting ligands and therapeutic drugs/genes in covalent and non-covalent 

fashion, and how to image the distribution, fate and therapy efficacy of the composite theranostic 

nanotube platform.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

16

EXPLOITING CHIRALITY-CONTROLLED CARBON NANOTUBES TO DIRECTLY HARVEST LIGHT 

AND ENERGY VIA A PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT ON A MACROSCOPIC SCALE

Michael S. Arnold

University of Wisconsin-Madison

msarnold@wisc.edu

Recent breakthroughs in the post-synthetic isolation of chirality-controlled semiconducting carbon 

nanotubes have made it possible to exploit these exceptional semiconductors as the primary optical 

absorbing components of macroscopic 1011 nanotube/mm2 optoelectronic and photonic devices.

Semiconducting carbon nanotubes have extraordinarily attractive properties for harvesting light 

including unusually strong optical absorptivity at their band gap ~ 1x106 cm-1 (in thin film); unparalleled 

charge transport mobility as high as 1x105 cm

2 V-1

s

-1

; broad band gap tunability throughout the near- and 

mid-infrared electromagnetic spectra; self-passivated surfaces that are without dangling bonds or traps; 

economical solution-processability; and excellent stability to photo-oxidation.

We are specifically interested in exploiting semiconducting carbon nanotubes to create photovoltaic 

devices such as high-efficiency, economical photovoltaic solar cells and high-detectivity, high-speed 

photovoltaic photodetectors for optical communications and thermal imaging technologies that are 

spectrally tunable and integrable onto arbitrary substrates.

The first challenge in creating nanotube-based photovoltaic devices is overcoming the exciton binding 

energy. We have found that C60-fullerene derivatives and poly(thiophene)s such as poly(3-

hexylthiophene) induce carbon nanotube exciton dissociation resulting in electron and hole transfer, 

respectively, away from the nanotubes, for d < 1.3 nm. The charge separation can be extremely efficient; 

we have realized combined exciton dissociation, charge transfer, and charge collection efficiency > 80

% using C60 as the electron acceptor. Significantly weaker or no charge transfer is observed for 

optically excited nanotubes paired with poly(para-phenylene vinylene) derivatives, poly(fluorene) 

derivatives, or insulating polymers such as polycarbonate and polyvinylpyrrolidone due to band/orbital 

energy offsets that are insufficient to overcome the expected ≅ 0.2 eV nanotube exciton binding energy.

Building on these studies, we have fabricated macroscopic (mm2

) photovoltaic and photodetector 

devices with a near-infrared power conversion efficiency of 1.4% and specific detectivity of 0.4x1012

Jones at 1.2 μm, respectively, exclusively using semiconducting nanotubes to harvest the incident 

electromagnetic radiation. These results are unique from previous uses of carbon nanotubes in 

macroscopic photovoltaic-type devices, in which the nanotubes have been limited to optically inactive 

roles such as charge collection or transport. We have also used the devices as tools for characterizing the 

fundamental diameter-dependent physical driving forces for charge separation at the 

nanotube/semiconductor heterointerfaces and the migration of excitons in percolating nanotube 

networks via intra-tube diffusion and inter-tube hopping. We show that the later limits the overall device 

efficiency and can be significantly enhanced through chirality control.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

17

GROWTH AND SEPARATION OF CHIRALITY CONTROLLED SWCNTS

Sivaram Arepalli

Department of Energy Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea

Many of the practical applications of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) require either 

semiconducting or metallic tubes. Purely metallic carbon nanotubes can help develop flexible and 

portable energy production and storage devices. This presentation will focus on producing and 

separating the single wall carbon nanotubes by “tube type” and chirality [1,2]. Increased arm chair tube 

populations are observed when a “warm up” laser is used to prolong the nucleation process in a 

modified double pulse laser oven set up. Similar controlled growth was achieved by using different 

metal catalysts (Pt/Rh instead of Co/Ni). The talk will also discuss some of the results from our recent 

“type separation” experiments carried out using agarose gel and ultracentrifugation. 

References:

P. Nikolaev, W. Holmes, E. Sosa, S. Arepalli and L. Yowell, “Effect of Vaporization Temperature on the 

Diameter and Chiral Angle Distributions of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes”, J. Nanoscience and 

Nanotechnology, Vol. 10, 3780-3789 (2010).

P. Nikolaev, W. Holmes, E. Sosa, P. Boul, and S. Arepalli, “Effect of the Laser Heating of Nanotube Nuclei on 

the Nanotube Type Population”, Nano Research Vol. 2, pp. 818-827 (2009). 
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

18

Poster Abstracts

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 at 5 pm - Hall of Flags

INVESTIGATE THE DNA RECOGNITION SEQUENCES FOR CARBON NANOTUBE SEPARATION 

BY FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

Xiaomin Tu, Ming Zheng

Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0854

xiaomin.tu@nist.gov

Fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful characterization tool for semiconducting carbon nanotube. It 

can distinguish nanotubes of similar diameter with overlapping E11 energy transitions, and it is very 

sensitive to surrounding changes, e.g. dielectric environment. We have identified a set of DNA 

sequences that can enrich single-chirality carbon nanotubes through a systematic search, and we adopted 

fluorescence spectroscopy to analyze these recognition sequences dispersed carbon nanotubes for 

mechanistic understanding of DNA-based nanotube separation. The results revealed strong DNA-length 

dependency for the recognition sequences. We believe fluorescence spectroscopy can be a very useful 

technique to unveil the separation mechanism.

ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF A SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBE CANDIDATE REFERENCE 

MATERIAL USING INSTRUMENTAL AND COLD NEUTRON PROMPT GAMMA ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

Rabia Oflaz Spatz, Rolf Zeisler, and Rick Paul

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory,

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

A material containing single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) mixed among other carbon species, 

catalyst residues, and trace element contaminants has been prepared by the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology for characterization and distribution as Standard Reference Material (SRM 

2483 Carbon Nanotube Soot). Neutron metrology was used in the characterization of elemental content 

of the candidate SWCNT reference material. The neutron techniques include instrumental neutron 

activation analysis (INAA) and cold neutron prompt gamma activation analysis (CNPGAA). Results 

will be discussed in the presentation.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

19

ELECTRICAL RELIABILITY TESTING OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBE NETWORKS

Mark C. Strus†, Ann Chiaramonti-Debay†, Younglae Kim§, Yung Joon Jung♦, 

Robert R. Keller†

†National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Reliability Division, Boulder, CO 80305 

§Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University Boston, MA 02115 

♦Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University Boston, MA 02115 

mark.strus@nist.gov

Because of their high current carrying capability and appreciable thermal conductivity, single-walled 

carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have emerged as a ideal material for future nanoscale electronics. The 

unique quasi-one-dimensional shape and strong sp2 and π-bonding between neighboring carbon atoms 

allows for large electron mean free paths, which means CNTs can conduct ballistically while 

withstanding extreme current densities > 109 A/cm2. SWCNT networked films, which can be easily fabricated at low cost, are emerging as a new class of flexible electronics with applications as field effect 

transistors, chemical sensors, and transparent oxide layers in photovoltaics. However, the long-term 

performance and reliability of these CNT-based devices has been largely neglected despite the likely 

subjection to high temperatures from significant currents which may directly induce thermal failure, 

cause electromigration, or lead to thermal mechanical induced fatigue or separation at the critical CNTCNT/metal/dielectric/polymer interfaces. 

We present test methods that are used to investigate the electrical reliability of several similar nanoscale 

lines of highly aligned networked metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs fabricated through a templatebased fluidic assembly process. We find that these SWCNT networks can withstand current densities on 

the order of 1 MA/cm2 for several hours and in some cases, several days, though the rate of failure and 

total lifetime is dependent on the fabrication conditions as demonstrated by scanning electron 

microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) cross-sectional images. Well-fabricated 

lines subjected to constant electrical stress are found to fail at a linear rate until moments before opencircuit failure, and we offer suggestions on the possible types of failure mechanisms involved.

SEPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LARGE DIAMETER EMPTY AND WATER-FILLED SWCNTS

Jeffrey A. Fagan,1 Ji Yeon Huh,1 Jeffrey R. Simpson,2 Jeffrey Blackburn,3

Angela R. Hight Walker4

1: National Institute of Standards and Technology: Polymers Division

2: Towson University, Towson MD

3: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden CO

4: National Institute of Standards and Technology: Optical Technology Division

We report measurements of separated populations of water-filled and empty nanotubes in solution and a 

facile method for separating the distinct populations from the initial mixture. In particular, results are 

shown for separation of laser ablation and electric arc synthesis produced nanotubes with diameters 

ranging from 1.2 nm to 1.5 nm using deoxycholate (DOC) surfactant based on the absence or presence 

of liquid in the interior cavity. Isolation of these populations was achieved from multiple SWCNT 

populations obtained from several independent synthesis sources. The separated populations are then 

demonstrated to have different optical resonance energies, radial breathing mode locations, and 

fluorescence efficiencies, as well as different optimal conditions for metallic and semiconducting 

separation.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

20

THE EFFECT OF DISPERSANT ON DEFECTS IN LENGTH-SEPARATED SINGLE-WALL CARBON 

NANOTUBES MEASURED BY RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

Jeff R. Simpsona,b, Jeff A. Faganc, Matthew L. Beckerd,

Erik K. Hobbiee, Angela R. Hight Walkera

a Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD 20899,USA

b Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA c Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA

d Dept. of Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio e Dept.of Physics, Dept. of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND

To evaluate the role of defects in this dependence, we compare Raman spectra from aqueous 

suspensions of SWCNTs dispersed using either polymer adsorption of single-stranded DNA or micelle 

encapsulation with sodium deoxycholate surfactant [1]. Each dispersed sample is then separated by 

length, using either size exclusion chromatography or density-gradient ultracentrifugation for DNA- and 

DOC-dispersed SWCNTS, respectively. Separation by length affords examination of the relative 

contribution of intrinsic and internal defects to the Raman D-band. For each dispersion method we 

examine length-separated fractions ranging from approximately (50 to 1000) nm. The intensity ratio of 

the disorder-induced Raman D-band to the G'-band scales inversely with length, consistent with 

predominately end cap defect sites. While the fluorescence quantum yield of SWCNTs in solution 

depends dramatically on dispersant, the comparable length-dependent D/G' for each dispersion scheme 

excludes defects as a possible explanation for the lower fluorescence in DNA versus deoxycholate 

dispersions.

[1] J.R. Simpson, J.A. Fagan, M.L. Becker, E.K. Hobbie, and A.R. Hight Walker, Carbon 47, 3238 (2009).

THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF NIST'S SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBE 

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Elisabeth Mansfield, Stephanie Hooker

NIST, Materials Reliability Division, Boulder CO

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are a promising nanomaterial with applications to 

aerospace, electronics and biotechnology. However, the properties of different batches of carbon 

nanotubes can vary considerably depending on chemical purity and the nanotube types present (e.g. 

diameter and chirality distribution). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) provides one measure of 

nanotube purity by assessing the material’s thermal stability (i.e. how it oxidizes with temperature) by 

monitoring weight loss as a function of temperature. Evaluation of the NIST Standard Reference 

Material for SWCNTs has been evaluated with TGA. Results of the raw soot, evaluated for composition 

with TGA will be presented. Length-sorted fractions of the SWCNT reference material (long, medium, 

short) will also be available and TGA characterization of each of these fractions will be demonstrated.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

21

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBES 

AND TRANSPARENT CONDUCTING CARBON NANOTUBE FILMS

Jan Obrzut

NIST, Polymers Division, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8541

Carbon nanotubes are being considered for electronic devices that can be scaled down to nanodimensions. The electrical transport properties of carbon nanotubes are especially attractive since they 

are not affected by surface scattering or surface roughness when the feature size of the interconnects 

shrinks. We describe impedance measurements of individual single wall metallic carbon nanotubes 

(CNTs) in the frequency range of 40 Hz to 100 MHz. Model calculations for carbon nanotubes predict 

that a drop in impedance should occur due to damping of the plasmon wave at a crossover frequency fc= 

1/πRDCCQE where RDC is the resistance and CQE are the combined quantum and electrostatic capacitance 

of the tube. In our earlier work we showed that the broad-band impedance measurement can be used to 

separate resistance from the capacitance of individual CNTs assembled as a conducting channel of a 3-

terminatl field-effect-transistor (FET) structure. Our present work is aimed at further elucidating the 

effect of contact barriers on the crossover frequency and the measurement of capacitance of CNTs. We 

utilized a resistance - capacitance (RC) lumped element circuit model to extract the capacitance of the 

tube and the corresponding contact resistance. The resistance values are approximately symmetric in 

respect to ± DC bias indicating symmetric contacts that can be attributed to forward-biased Schottky 

barriers at each contact. We observe a sharp conductor-insulator transition at a crossover frequency, fc, 

above which the circuit response becomes capacitive. Our results agree qualitatively with the theoretical 

impedance characteristic of a perfect metallic CNT, and furthermore, they imply that the crossover 

frequency due to quantum capacitance would fall in the range of about 100 GHz.

Transparent conducting films were made from length-sorted single wall carbon nanotubes through 

filtration from a dispersing solvent onto a filter substrate. Such films exhibit sharp changes in their 

optical properties and conductivity (σ) with increasing surface concentration of the tubes. At a given 

surface concentration, tubes longer than 200 nm are found to form networks that are more transparent 

and conducting. We show that changes of σ with tube concentration can be quantitatively described by 

the Generalized Effective Medium theory. The scaling universal exponents describing the ‘percolation’ 

transition from an insulating to conducting state with increasing concentration are consistent with twodimensional (2D) percolation model. Shorter tubes and mixed length tubes form 3D networks. 

Furthermore, we demonstrate that the conductivity percolation threshold (xc) varies with the aspect ratio 

L as, xc ~ 1 / L, a result that is also in accordance with the percolation theory. These findings provide a 

framework for engineering the optical and electrical properties of carbon nanotube networks for 

technological applications where flexibility, transparency and conductivity are required.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

22

CONTROLLABLE SYNTHESIS OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES AND GRAPHENE 

IN ARC DISCHARGE

Jian Li, Olga Volotskova, Alexey Shashurin, Madhusudhan Kundrapu and Michael Keidar

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, 

Washington, DC 20052, USA

Arc charge is the most widely-utilized method to synthesize carbon nanotubes and other carbon 

nanostructures due to the high-quality products and eco-friendly processes. The application of magnetic 

field in arc can increase the controllability and flexibility of the synthesis processes. The focus of this 

work is to understand the mechanism of magnetically-enhanced plasma synthesis, further to establish the 

fundamental correlation between parameters of arc plasma and characteristics of single-walled carbon 

nanotubes (SWCNT) and graphene. The influence of external magnetic field on SWCNT parameters is 

demonstrated as following: (I) It can increase the length of SWCNT by a factor of 2 and the population 

of long nanotubes with the length above 5 μm. (II) It can result in substantial fractions of produced 

SWCNTs being of small diameter, less than 1.3 nm. (III) It can change the chirality distribution of 

SWCNT and the ratio of metallic to semiconducting SWCNT. (IV) It can reduce the diameter of catalyst 

nanoparticles and narrow the diameter distribution of nanoparticles. The explanations of these findings 

can be presented in the study of voltage-current characteristics of arc plasma, the analysis of size 

distribution of catalyst particles, the diffusion model of carbon adatom by Monte Carlo and numerical 

simulation of arc discharge ablation. Additionally, recent research results in our group show that by 

applying non-uniform magnetic field, large-scale production of high-quality graphene flakes can be 

synthesized on Molybdenum sheet. The morphology and quality of the carbon nanostructures are 

characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TEM, Raman, electron diffraction spectrum, 

UV-visible near-infrared absorbance and near-infrared fluorescence spectroscopy.

SELF-ASSEMBLY OF CARBON NANOTUBES FOR LENGTH FRACTIONATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

Constantine Y. Khripin1, Nicholas Arnold-Medabalimi2, Denis Pristinski1, and Ming Zheng1

1

Complex Fluids Group, Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards in Technology, 100 Bureau Dr, 

Gaithersburg, MD 20899; 2

Summer High School Internship Program, , National Institute of Standards in 

Technology, 100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, MD

The DNA dispersion of single - walled carbon nanotubes, forming the hybrid nanoparticle DNASWCNT, has seen extensive use as a convenient way of purifying and processing carbon nanotubes. We 

are investigating molecular self-assembly as a new way of purifying DNA-SWCNT, as well as for 

probing the structure of the hybrid. We find that the addition of poly-ethyleneglycol (PEG) induces 

DNA-SWCNT assembly into a gel – like phase. This is similar to the PEG “molecular crowding” 

induced transition of double-stranded DNA into a condensed phase. As with DNA, DNA-SWCNT 

condensation is length dependent; AFM measurements show both long and short nanotubes can be 

isolated, e.g. 460±180 nm and 160±50 nm. Dynamic light scattering and UV-VIS data show that this 

method removes non-SWCNT impurities present in the suspension. We also show that “molecular 

crowding” by PEG can induce DNA-SWCNT self-assembly into a 2D nematic phase on a substrate.

Because this phase appears to be very stable, we are exploring its use for nanotube characterization by 

scanning probe microscopy, to examine the structure of DNA on the nanotube surface. 
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

23

WRINKLING AND STRAIN SOFTENING IN SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBE MEMBRANES 

ON POLYMER SUBSTRATES

Erik K. Hobbie

Department of Physics, Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University

Daneesh O. Simien, Jeffrey A. Fagan, Ji Yeon Huh, Jun Young Chung, Steven D. Hudson, Jan Obrzut, 

Jack F. Douglas and Christopher M. Stafford

Polymers Division, NIST Gaithersburg

Thin membranes of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) show considerable promise for a number 

of potential applications. The high conductivity and shape anisotropy of the nanotubes enable the 

formation of conductive quasi-2D networks at remarkably low surface density, and the mechanical 

characteristics of the individual SWCNTs can be outstanding. Recent advances in the separation of 

SWCNTs by length and electronic type allow for the production of films and coatings with precisely 

tunable properties, and the tremendous potential of these films for flexible-electronics applications 

demands a deeper understanding of the coupling between deformation, microstructure and stiffness.

Compressive wrinkling has emerged as a powerful tool for measuring the modulus of thin polymer films 

supported by soft flexible substrates, and we use this approach here to study the nonlinear deformation 

of membranes assembled from SWCNTs that have been purified by length or electronic type (metallic 

vs. semiconducting). Our measurements reveal a material that is remarkably stiff under infinitesimal 

deformation but softens dramatically at finite strain. We link this strongly non-linear behavior to an 

upward shift in percolation threshold triggered by strain-induced nanotube alignment, an effect 

correspondingly apparent as an anisotropic decrease in conductivity. We extract the modulus and yield 

strain as a function of surface density and film thickness and compare these with theoretical models of 

percolation in anisotropic 2D rigid-rod networks. 

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation through CMMI-0969155.

DOCUMENTARY STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT FOR CARBON NANOTUBE CHARACTERIZATION 

WITHIN ISO/TC 229

Angela R. Hight Walker

Chair of US Delegation to ISO TC229/WG2, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) play a prominent role within the International Standards Organization (ISO), 

Technical Committee (TC) 229 Nanotechnology. ISO/TC229, established in 2005, has 32 member body 

countries participating and 10 countries observing, and works in cooperation with multiple organizations 

such as CEN, OECD, VAMAS, Asia Nano Forum, BIPM, IUPAC among others. CNTs are the focus of 

the vast majority of work items within Working Group 2 (WG2), Measurement and Characterization, 

one of the four WGs within the TC. WG2 is a joint committee with the International Electrotechnical

Commission (IEC)/TC 113. The work program for single-wall carbon nanotubes is based on a matrix of 

six parameters verses multiple measurement methods. Many of these technique-based projects have 

moved into the final stages of development. Also, multiwall carbon nanotube characterization is under 

consideration within WG2. A summary of the documentary standards under development pertaining to 

carbon nanotubes will be presented, particularly those within ISO/TC229, but also those relevant 

activities in other standards developing organizations.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

24

ENRICHMENT OF ARMCHAIR CARBON NANOTUBES VIA DENSITY GRADIENT ULTRACENTRIFUGATION:

FULL POPULATION ANALYSIS USING RAMAN EXCITATION PROFILES

Erik H. Hároz1, William D. Rice1, Benjamin Y. Lu1, Georgia K. Lagoudas1, Robert H. Hauge2, Stephen 

K. Doorn3, and Junichiro Kono1

1

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University

2

Department of Chemistry, Rice University

3

Center for Integrated Nanotechnology, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Using resonant Raman scattering spectra collected over a broad range of excitation wavelengths (440-

850 nm), we have constructed Raman excitation profiles of the radial breathing mode phonon for each 

(n,m) species present in as-produced and metal-enriched single-walled carbon nanotube ensemble 

samples. From this, we determine the relative abundances of all metallic and semiconducting chiralities.

Strikingly, the data clearly show that our density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) process enriches 

the metal-enriched sample in armchair and near-armchair species. In particular, we observe that 

armchair carbon nanotubes constitute more than 50 % of each metallic (2n + m) family yet observe little 

to no chiral angle dependence in the remaining semiconducting species minority. Such data combined 

with absorption and photoluminescence measurements elucidate elements of the mechanism of the DGU 

metallic type-enrichment process and the importance of surfactant micelle composition. Finally, we 

compare our measured relative abundances determined from Raman spectroscopy to absorption area 

estimates to assess the validity of the usage of absorption spectroscopy for determining % metallicity of 

ensemble nanotube samples.

RESONANT RAMAN SCATTERING BEHAVIOR OF G-BAND PHONONS IN ARMCHAIR-ENRICHED CARBON 

NANOTUBE SUSPENSIONS

Erik H. Hároz1, Juan G. Duque2, William D. Rice1, Stephen K. Doorn2, and Junichiro Kono1

1 Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX

2 Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

The emission of longitudinal and transverse optical phonons (LO & TO, respectively), which make up 

the so-called “G-band” of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are thought to be important to electrical and optical 

relaxation processes in such systems because of their strong electron-phonon coupling. The standard tool 

for probing this coupling, especially in metallic carbon nanotubes, is resonant Raman scattering 

spectroscopy. Unfortunately, unlike the radial breathing mode (RBM) in CNTs, however, the G-band 

does not display a strong frequency dependence on (n,m) species and hence nanotube structure. As a 

result, obtaining a clear chirality dependence in terms of peak frequency, peak intensity, and line width 

of the LO and TO phonons of the G-band requires working at either the single tube level or with 

ensemble samples highly enriched in a single type of tube structure. Here, we present Raman 

measurements on ensemble samples enriched in metallic carbon nanotubes produced by density gradient 

ultracentrifugation (DGU) and provide clear evidence that our DGU process enriches in particular 

armchair metallic chiralities. Furthermore, G-band data for spectroscopically isolated armchair 

chiralities show that the relevant lower-frequency LO mode is absent for these structures, in contrast 

with recent theoretical results.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

25

PHONON DEPHASING AND POPULATION DECAY DYNAMICS OF THE G-BAND OF SEMICONDUCTING 

SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBES

Young Jong Lee, Sapun H. Parekh, Marcus T. Cicerone, and Jeffrey A. Fagan

Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

The dephasing and population decay dynamics of optical phonons are studied for semiconducting 

single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using broadband time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman 

scattering (TR-CARS) and time-resolved incoherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (TR-IARS). By 

simply adjusting the spectral bandwidth of a continuum pulse, we are able to directly measure both the 

total dephasing time, T2, and the population decay time, T1, of the G-band sequentially in the same 

sample, which allows for one to exclude artifacts due to comparison of dynamics values measured with 

different sample conditions and different measurement schemes. The values of T1 and T2/2 are 

presented for two different SWCNT samples: bundles in a film on glass and a dispersion solution in 

water. While the measured T1 values are similar for the two samples, the pure dephasing times, T2

*

/2, 

determined from the T2/2 and T1 measurements are faster in bundled SWCNTs than in an isolated 

dispersion. This suggests that neighboring tubes in the film perturbs the vibrational mode more strongly 

than surrounding surfactants and that the pure dephasing dynamics is more sensitive to the perturbation.

CARBON NANOTUBE REFERENCE MATERIALS

Jeffrey A. Fagan

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Polymers Division, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

jeffrey.fagan@nist.gov

NIST has produced and characterized two different carbon nanotube reference materials for upcoming 

release. These include a certified reference material based on a homogenized batch of raw nanotube soot 

(SRM 2483) and a set of purified length sorted populations in aqueous dispersion (RM 8281). SRM 

2483 will be certified for the elemental composition and homogeneity of the material as evaluated by 

neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma – mass spectometry (ICP-MS), and

thermogravimetric analysis; informational values with respect to the optical absorbance of the material 

after dispersion, Raman scattering information, and TEM images will also be detailed. RM 8281, also in 

use as the round robin sample for the VAMAS TWA 34 project #1 on chirality distribution 

measurement, will have information including optical properties, and the distribution of lengths within 

the three fractions. An overview of the measured properties is presented.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

26

SINGLE WALL CARBON NANOTUBE PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS

Christopher M. Schauerman, Paul R. Jarosz, Matthew J. Ganter, Roberta A. DiLeo, Thomas L. 

Mastrangelo, Jack Alvarenga, Cory D. Cress†, Ryne P. Raffaelle‡, 

and Brian J. Landi

NanoPower Research Laboratories, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA

† Naval Research Laboratories, Washington, DC, USA

‡ National Center for Photovoltaics, National Renewable Energy Laboratories Golden, CO, USA

Many applications of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) stand to benefit from advanced 

techniques for isolating carbon nanotubes on the basis of electronic type, diameter, and length. In 

response to the growing demand for material, recent efforts have focused on improving the yield and 

efficiency of these separation tools. One strategy for increasing the mass efficiency of the separation 

process is to influence the SWCNTs distributions (e.g. chirality, diameter, length, etc.) upstream by 

modifying synthesis, purification, and processing parameters. With precise optimization of these 

procedures, a larger mass fraction of nanotubes can be retained throughout the processing lifecycle.

However, there are currently many challenges regarding SWCNT quality control, which range from 

reproducibility in synthesis to eventual integration into device structures. This presentation will 

highlight the versatility of using laser vaporization synthesis to improve SWCNT yields and 

reproducibility. The laser vaporization method allows for highly consistent chirality and diameter 

distributions, as well as the ability to shift those distributions during synthesis by controlling reactor 

parameters such as catalyst selection, carrier gas, temperature, etc. The results of a rapid purity 

assessment protocol for SWCNT materials (produced by a variety of methods including laser 

vaporization) based upon dispersion in organic solvents will be described. Utilizing this protocol, an 

advanced thermal oxidation profiling technique was developed to maximize nanotube mass retention 

during purification. It is possible to leverage these and other recent advances in SWCNT synthesis and 

processing techniques to tailor the bulk properties for specific technologies and applications. A summary 

of demonstrations of high purity SWCNTs in devices will be provided, including thin-film transistors, 

bulk CNT wires, and lithium-ion batteries. The influence of purity, chirality, and SWCNT morphology 

are shown to dramatically influence the relative improvement gained in these device architectures. In 

addition, the effects of metal-nanotube junctions and chemical dopants to enhance the intrinsic SWCNT 

properties will be discussed.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

27

SOLID-STATE 13C NMR ASSIGNMENT OF CARBON RESONANCES ON METALLIC AND 

SEMICONDUCTING SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

Chaiwat Engtrakul, Brian Larsen, Kevin Mistry, Mark Davis, Jeff Blackburn

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO

Exploitation of the unique electronic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in device 

fabrication requires molecular-level structural characterization of the nanotubes and their derivatives.

Among the various analytical tools that can be used to characterize the structural properties of SWCNTs, 

nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is particularly well suited to probe the local electronic 

environment of carbon nuclei. A major challenge in obtaining a high-resolution 13C NMR spectrum for 

pristine SWCNTs is the large polydispersity in diameter, length, and chirality intrinsic to most samples.

In addition, as-produced SWCNTs consist of ≅ 2/3 semiconducting (s) and ≅ 1/3 metallic (m) nanotubes, 

and definitive assignment of distinct 13C resonances for each of these types of tubes has not been 

achieved experimentally.

We report here the first solid-state 13C NMR chemical shift assignment of nanotube carbons on m- and 

s-SWCNTs for samples with widely varying s-SWCNT content and diameters of ~1.3 nm, including 

samples enriched with nearly 100 % m- or s-SWCNTs.8 We prepare 13C-enriched SWCNTs by laser 

vaporization using graphite targets doped with 20 % amorphous 13C. The resulting 13C-enriched 

SWCNTs are then separated by density gradient ultracentrifuation. Solid-state magic angle spinning 

(MAS) NMR is then used to probe the unique nuclear environment of carbons in the separated 

SWCNTs. There are two striking features to the MAS NMR spectra: (1) the difference between the 13C 

NMR resonances between the nearly pure m- and s-SWCNTs is very small, ≅1 ppm, and (2) the full 

width at half maximum (FWHM) of the metallic 13C resonance is nearly twice that of the 

semiconducting 13C resonance. The first observation is in stark contrast to both theoretical and 

experimental studies that predict and infer, respectively, 13C NMR chemical shifts of up to 11 ppm 

between m- and s-SWCNTs. The small chemical shift difference observed in our work is in good 

agreement with the recent theoretical calculations by Lai et al. Here, larger diameter semiconducting and 

semimetallic zigzag SWCNTs were calculated to have similar isotropic chemical shifts, (121.8 and 

120.9) ppm, respectively. We tentatively attribute the increased line broadening of the metallic 13C 

resonance to polydispersity in the isotropic Knight shift of the different m-SWCNT species.

Nonetheless, the FWHMs for the m- and s-SWCNT samples are among the lowest reported values to 

date. 

Our results indicate that high-resolution 13C NMR can resolve m- and s-SWCNTs in mixed SWCNT

samples with diameters of ≅1.3 nm if the samples are very pure (i.e. low in residual catalyst metal 

content). We are currently in the process of exploring smaller diameter SWCNTs to see if both 

electronic structure and diameter affect the chemical shift. Beyond the fundamental importance of 

unique diameter- and electronic structure-dependent 13C chemical shifts, the 13C-enriched SWCNTs 

produced here are useful for probing molecular-scale interactions that are important for emerging 

applications. Such interactions include ground state charge transfer interactions and functionalization 

reactions that influence separations, as well as interactions with species such as quantum dots and 

conducting polymers.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

28

CHARACTERIZATION OF PARTICLE SUSPENSIONS USING ANALYTICAL ULTRACENTRIFUGATION

Vinayak Rastogi and Jeffery A. Fagan

National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg MD 20899

Analysis of disperse systems has been of primary importance for the development of technology based 

on nano/micro particle suspensions. Several techniques like field flow fractionation, spectroscopy, size 

measurements based on zeta potential have been used to determine the properties of colloid particle 

systems. However each presents its own limitations and complexity based on the system of interest.

Analytical Ultracentrifuge on the other hand allows dynamic scanning, analysis and characterization of 

wide variety of particle suspensions under the influence of controllable sedimentation forces.1 The 

technique facilitates the investigation of physico-chemical and hydrodynamic properties of nanoparticle 

and dispersant conjugates. This poster highlights the utility of analytical ultracentrifugation in the 

characterization of biomolecules2 (DNA, BSA), polymeric microspheres (Latex), metallic nanoparticles3

(Si-NP and Ag-NP) and SWCNT-surfactant complexes4.

References:

1. Cölfen, H. Analytical Ultracentrifugation. Macromol. Biosci. 10, 687-688 (2010).

2. Lebowitz, J., Lewis, M.S. & Schuck, P. Modern analytical ultracentrifugation in protein science: A tutorial 

review. Protein Sci. 11, 2067-2079 (2002).

3. Jamison, J.A. et al. Size-Dependent Sedimentation Properties of Nanocrystals. ACS Nano 2, 311-319 (2008).

4. Arnold, M.S., Suntivich, J., Stupp, S.I. & Hersam, M.C. Hydrodynamic Characterization of Surfactant 

Encapsulated Carbon Nanotubes Using an Analytical Ultracentrifuge. ACS Nano 2, 2291-2300 (2008).

SEPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF DOUBLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBE SUBPOPULATIONS

Ji Yeon Huh1

, Angela R. Hight Walker2, Hyun Wook Ro1, Jan Obrzut1, Elisabeth Mansfield3, Roy 

Geiss3

, and Jeffrey A. Fagan1

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899

1

Polymers Division,

2

Physics Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305

3

Materials Reliability Division

Surfactant-encapsulated double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) synthesized by the high-pressure 

carbon monoxide decomposition (HiPco) process were separated by length and electronic 

characteristics. To ensure our study focuses only on the behavior of DWCNTs, dispersed DWCNTs 

were first purified from polydisperse mixtures of SWCNTs, MWCNTs, and carbonaceous impurities 

following the method of Green et al. [Green, A. A.; Hersam, M. C. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2008, 264, 1]. By 

increasing the density difference between the nanotubes and the density gradient medium, we exploited 

the length-dependent translation of the nanotubes in response to applied centrifugation to isolate narrow 

length distribution The controlled addition of cosurfactants is shown to allow resolution of DWCNTs by 

electronic structure, as demonstrated through optical absorbance, Raman spectra, and electrical 

conductivity measurements. Measurements of conducting films prepared from separated fractions 

exhibit significant property differences in the enriched materials.
September 23-24, 2010 Summary, Program and Abstracts

29

UPTAKE AND ELIMINATION BEHAVIORS OF POLYETHYLENEIMINE (PEI)-COATED MULTI-WALLED 

CARBON NANOTUBES BY EISENIA FOETIDA AND DAPHNIA MAGNA

Elijah J. Petersen1, Roger A. Pinto2, Danielle J. Mai2, Peter F. Landrum3, Liwen Zhang4, Qingguo 

Huang4, Xiangyang Shi5, and Walter J. Weber, Jr.2

1:Biochemical Sciences Division, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA

2:Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

3: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 4840 

State Rd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA

4:Department of Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, 30223

5: Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Biotechnology, Donghua 

University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China

Determining the effects of various surface coatings on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is critical given the 

numerous expected applications of CNTs and their inevitable release into ecosystems. To explore the 

potential ecotoxicological effects of CNT surface modifications, we modified multi-walled carbon 

nanotubes (MWNTs) with polyethyleneimine (PEI) grafting, which endow the nanotubes with enhanced 

aqueous stability and, after additional chemical modifications, positive, negative, or neutral surface 

charges. Uptake and elimination experiments for PEI-MWNTs with various surface charges spiked to 

soils revealed the same limited earthworm accumulation and ready elimination as purified MWNTs.

Interestingly, PEI-MWNTs and regular MWNTs revealed significantly different sorption and desorption 

behaviours in soils, which contrasts with their similar, limited bioaccumulation. Conversely, Daphnia 

magna, an aquatic organism, accumulated substantial concentrations of PEI MWNTs and was only able 

to excrete them with algae feeding. This suggests that the availability of food in ecosystems will 

substantially affect the long-term fate of nanotubes ingested by daphnia. Quantification of the carbon 

nanotubes in earthworms and daphnia was performed using 14C-labeled nanotubes. This approach 

overcomes significant measurement limitations to accurately determine CNT concentrations in 

environmentally relevant tissues and media. Additionally, PEI coatings increased nanotube toxicity to 

daphnia as exhibited by elevated percentages of immobilized daphnia after exposure to identical 

nanotube concentrations as regular MWNTs. Significant differences were observed among the various 

types of nanotubes suggesting that surface coatings may strongly influence the potential 

ecotoxicological effects of carbon nanotubes in the environment.
Fourth NIST Workshop on Carbon Nanotubes: Control and Measurement of Chirality 

30

SEPARATION OF SINGLE WALL CARBON NANOTUBES (SWCNTS) USING FIELD-FLOW 

FRACTIONATION TECHNIQUES

Frederick R. Phelan Jr.

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Polymers Division,

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0854

The separation of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) 

techniques is discussed, with an emphasis on separation mechanism using different techniques. Results 

from both modeling and experiment show that traditional flow-FFF can be used to produce length based 

separations of SWCNTs controlled by the particle diffusion coefficient. Important differences between 

the separation mechanisms for spherical and rodlike particles are highlighted. Electric Field, Field-Flow 

Fractionation (EF-FFF) can be used to produce type separation (separation of metallic from semiconducting tubes) by exploiting both hydrodynamic properties and the polarizability differences 

between metallic and semi-conducting tubes. Differences between separation mechanisms for SWCNTs 

in both uniform and non-uniform electric fields are discussed. Sedimentation-FFF (Sd-FFF) produces 

separation based on density differences in an artificial gravitational field. Based on the development of a 

detailed understanding of SCWNT-surfactant complex transport properties, this technique potentially 

enables separation of SWCNTs by chirality.