The Generation of a Carbon Nanotube- Cyclodextrin Complex
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The Generation of a Carbon Nanotube- Cyclodextrin Complex. G.F. Farrell1, G. Chambers1,2, A.B Dalton3, E. Cummins1, M. McNamara1, R.H. Baughman3, M. in het Panhuis2, H.J. Byrne1. 1
Facility for Optical Characterisation And Spectroscopy (FOCAS), DIT, Kevin Street, Dublin 08, Ireland. 2 Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 02, Ireland/ Media Lab Europe, Sugar House Lane, Bellevue, Dublin 08, Ireland. 3 UTD NanoTech Institute University of Texas at Dallas Richardson 75080 USA.
ABSTRACT In this study the intermolecular interactions of small diameter (~0.7nm) carbon nanotubes and γcyclodextrin were examined. Four samples of γ cyclodextrin and HiPco carbon nanotubes were prepared. The first, by grinding the tubes and the cyclodextrin (1:30 ratio) together in a dry mixture, the second was prepared in a similar fashion but was ground in the presence of water (1ml). Finally an aqueous solution of γ-cyclodextrin (0.3M) and HiPco carbon nanotubes (5mg) was prepared by refluxing for ~100 hours, forming a pale yellow solution from which a number of crystals were produced, both the solution and the recrystallised material were analysed. The samples were analysed using UV-Vis-NIR and Raman spectroscopy. The results presented are the first spectroscopic evidence of an intermolecular interaction between γ-cyclodextrin and single wall nanotubes.
INTRODUCTION
Since the discovery [1] of carbon nanotubes there has been considerable interest in the development of fullerene based nanotechnology. Theory predicts that carbon nanotubes have extraordinary electrical properties [2] and can behave as a one-dimensional conductor making them ideal candidates for interconnects in molecular electronic devices. Experimental confirmation of these predictions however has been hampered by the difficulty in purifying, processing and manipulating the carbon nanotubes. Several methods for processing and purifying both multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have been reported using conjugated polymer systems [3] and chromatographic approaches [4]. However reports on the chemical manipulation of the tubes have been slow to emerge. The recent production of small diameter (0.7-0.8nm) and high purity single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by Smalley et al. [5] using a gas-phase catalytic approach called HiPco (high pressure CO disproportionation) has resolved to some degree the question of purity, with current purities of >90% atomic percent SWNT carbon [6]. The dominant impurities begin metal catalyst particles of Iron [6]. The purity of HiPco nanotubes has aroused considerable interest in the chemistry of this unique material [7,8] and significantly the interaction of these tubes with supra-macromolcules, bio-molecules and polymeric material. Recently it has been demonstrated that SWNTs (HiPco) can be cut by simply grinding the tubes in soft organic V13.8.1
material such a cyclodextrins [7] (CD). The results reported on such cutting techniques however concentrated upon microscopy thereby limiting the degree of informat
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