SBIR Phase II: Dissolution of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将开发一种具有成本效益的程序，用于生产商业数量的可溶性单壁碳纳米管（SWNT）。 第一阶段的结果表明，在常见的有机溶剂中的剥离和共价官能化的全长单壁碳纳米管的溶解。研究发现，制备的单壁碳纳米管（AP-SWNT）烟灰的纯度对最终产品的成本和质量都有很大影响。 该项目的主要重点将是无副产物AP-SWNT烟灰的合成、SWNT的纯化以及溶解步骤的优化和放大。碳纳米管的溶解可以大大提高这种独特材料的加工性能，并促进SWNT进入需要高强度轻质材料、电磁屏蔽材料、导电复合材料和纳米电子学。 单壁碳纳米管溶液化学的发展将促进其在高分子科学和医学中的应用。

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.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.