By: Steven Wehmeyer

Amazing properties◦ Thermal conductivity 6600 W/m-K

2-3 times higher than diamond◦ Elastic Modulus 1-5 TPa

3-4 times higher than diamond Steel ~ .2 TPa

◦ Electrical conductivity 10^4 S/cm Gold 4.5x10^5 S/cm

Need to be pure to take full advantage of properties

High Pressure catalytic decomposition of carbon monoxide (HIPCO)

Arc discharge Laser ablation

Synthesis (HIPCO)

Raw material◦ High Pressure catalytic decomposition of carbon

monoxide (HIPCO) from Unidym◦ Elicarb from Swan Chemical Inc.

Oxidize Heat

Acid reflux Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

Purified SWNT Characterize

◦ Transmission Electron Microscope◦ Thermogravimetric Analysis◦ Raman Spectroscopy

Combine oxidation and acid reflux2◦ H2O2 for oxidizing and HCl for acid reflux

Different concentrations◦ Acids

HCl Nitric Acid

Sidewall damage Acetone

Combine with carbon nanotubes and heat mixture (40-70°C) for eight hours to accelerate processes

Filter Characterize

◦ TEM, TGA, Raman Spectroscopy

1. Unalan, Husnu Emrah.  “Single walled carbon nanotube thin films: Properties and applications”  Diss. Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, 2006. Dissertations & Theses: Full Text. ProQuest. 28 May. 2009

2. Wang, Yuhuang, Hongwei Shan, Robert H. Hauge, Matteo Pasquali, and Richard E. Smalley, “A highly selective, one-pot purification method for single-walled carbon nanotubes” The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 111.6 (24 January 2007): 1249-1252