Patent ID: 8894963

Claim:
A method, comprising: forming a nanocomposite solution, having at least one nanotube and at least one nanoplatelet, wherein the nanotube is exfoliated; mixing at least one surfactant to the nanocomposite solution; separating a nanocomposite, wherein the nanotube remains suspended in the surfactant solution, and the nanoplatelet is precipitated from the nanotube and surfactant solution; and isolating the nanotube in solution, wherein isolating the nanotubes in solution comprises destabilizing or functionalizing the nanotubes in solution, and dispersing the nanotubes in a solvent, wherein functionalizing the nanotubes comprises mixing a solution containing amines, amides, ions, or other organic or inorganic groups, wherein the solution comprises sulfanilamide.