CVD grown single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in organic solvents

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown promise for development of several electrical and structural applications. Growing nanotubes with controlled diameter and bandgap, preparing their uniform and stable dispersions, fabrications of reliable and repeatable devices on wafer scale, are some of the challenges being faced by researchers and technologists across the world. Here we discuss the preparation and comparison of SWNT dispersion of carbon nanotubes using different organic solvents. In organic solvents no dispersant is required since these solvents are expected to wet the hydrophobic surface of SWNTs. The organic chain provides enough steric strain to SWNTs for it to compensate and overcome the large surface energy and van der Waals' force, thereby preventing their agglomeration. The samples have been characterized by UV‐Vis spectroscopy. The samples that are well dispersed have a very good shelf life. A comparison will also be made of the dispersability of the SWNTs that have been grown by Arc Discharge and CVD technique.