Optimization of purification and selective burning of single-wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Single wall carbon nanotubes produced by laser ablation were purified and selectively O2 treated. In this contribution we present a comparative study of the success of different multistep purification attempts. After optimization of the mentioned purification methods we can remove almost all catalyst metals and amorphous carbon in the samples. Chemical treatments and O2 burning lead to a selective creation of different SWNT. The results of the purification effort and selective burning were monitored by optical spectroscopy, TEM, SEM and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).