Patent ID: 8703092

Claim:
A two-phase liquid extraction method for separating nanotubes by type, said method comprising: a) dispersing a population of nanotubes in a liquid polar solvent to form a polar phase; b) selectively functionalizing a subpopulation of nanotubes from step (a) with a functionalizing group that enables the subpopulation of nanotubes to transport from a polar phase into a non-polar phase, and adding an active moiety to the sidewall of the functionalized nanotube subpopulation to assist in preferential transport from the polar phase into the non-polar phase; c) combining a liquid non-polar solvent with the liquid polar solvent to form a two-phase liquid mixture, wherein the non-polar solvent forms the non-polar phase; and d) agitating the two-phase mixture to increase interface area between the polar and non-polar phase and affect the preferential transport of the functionalized subpopulation of nanotubes into the non-polar phase.