Chromatography of carbon nanotubes

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is an effective tool for the purificati on of multiwall and singlewall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs and SWNTs). The meth od is applied to surfactant stabilised dispersions of raw material produced in a Kraetschmer generator. Besides the removal of carbon nanospheres, met al particles and amorphous carbon, a length separation of the NTs is achiev ed. Raman spectra of the liquid dispersions illustrate the successful purif ication. AFM investigations of NTs determined the length separation.