Anthanthrene-based conjugated polymers for the dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Four new copolymers based on anthanthrene for the dispersion of semiconducting SWNTs of various diameters have been synthesized. After optimization of the dispersion parameters, it has been observed that fluorene- and carbazole-based copolymers lead to a sc-SWNT enrichment with low amount of residual m-SWNTs for HiPCO nanotubes. For larger diameter Plasma torch SWNTs, phenyl-based and pyrene-based copolymers yield high concentration dispersions (0.08 mg ml⁻¹), but no selectivity for either SWNT species. Our work opens up the use of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon units such as anthanthrene derivatives for SWNT wrapping process.