NSF Award
0110221
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a cost-effective procedure for the production of soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in commercial quantities. Phase I results demonstrated dissolution of full-length SWNTs in common organic solvents by exfoliation and covalent functionalization. It has been found that the purity of as-prepared SWNT (AP-SWNT) soot greatly influences both the cost and quality of the final product. The major emphasis for the project will be directed towards the synthesis of byproduct-free AP-SWNT soot, in purification of the SWNTs and in optimizing and scaling-up the dissolution step.<br/><br/>The dissolution of carbon nanotubes can greatly enhance the processability of this unique material and facilitate the entry of SWNTs into commercial applications requiring high strength light weight materials, electromagnetic shielding materials, conductive composites and nanoelectronics. The development of the solution chemistry of SWNTs will facilitate applications in polymer science, and in medicine.
