Chromatographic separation of metallic and semi-conducting single-walled carbon nanotubes

The objective of the project is to separate the metallic and semi-conducting single- walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for device making. The separation is performed using column chromatography. Column chromatography uses various types of stationary phases, an air pump that moves the mobile phase and analyte through the column. UV-vis-near IR, Raman, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) are used to characterize the eluted analyte. Sepharose-2B was used as stationary phase. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SDS) was used for eluting the metallic single-walled CNT and sodium deoxycholate (DOC) was used for eluting the semiconducting single-walled CNT. The type of SWCNTs used in the experiment is made via the arc discharge method. The UV-vis-near IR spectroscopy was used to analyze the samples obtained after separation. The characteristic absorption wavelength for pristine SWCNT is about 800-1200 nm (semi-conducting) and 600-800nm (metallic SWCNT). Using column chromatography, semi-conducting SWCNTs could be obtained up to a concentration of 98.3%.Master of Science (Biomedical Engineering