Dispersion and retrieval of de-bundled nanotubes

Abstract

A method for dispersing nanotubes, comprising forming a nanocomposite solution with associated nanotubes and nanoplatelets, mixing a surfactant to the nanocomposite solution, separating the nanocomposite in solution, wherein the nanotubes remain suspended in the surfactant solution, and isolating the nanotubes in solution. In certain instances, the method further comprises functionalizing the nanotubes in solution.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 : A composition comprising:
 an exfoliated nanotube,   wherein the composition is produced by a process comprising:
 preparing a mixture including at least one surfactant and at least one nanotube associated with at least one nanoplatelet; and 
 separating the nanoplatelet such that 98.6% or more of the nanoplatelet is removed from the mixture, 
   wherein an amount of the exfoliated nanotube remaining in the composition after the separating of the nanoplatelet is 61% or more based on a content of the nanotube in the mixture.   
     
     
         22 : The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one surfactant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, and a non-ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         23 : The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the mixture includes the at least one surfactant at a concentration of between 0.01 wt % and 10 wt %. 
     
     
         24 : The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the separating of the nanoplatelet comprises mixing at least one ionic solution comprising an acid solution with the mixture. 
     
     
         25 : The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the acid solution is mixed at a concentration of between 0.1 mM and 900 mM. 
     
     
         26 : The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the separating of the nanoplatelet comprises at least one of filtering and centrifuging. 
     
     
         27 : The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the separating of the nanoplatelet comprises performing centrifuging under a relative centrifugal force of at least about 1,000 G. 
     
     
         28 : An exfoliated nanotube obtained from the composition of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         29 : A method of producing a composition, comprising:
 preparing a mixture including at least one surfactant and at least one nanotube associated with at least one nanoplatelet; and   separating the nanoplatelet such that 98.6% or more of the nanoplatelet is removed from the mixture and that 61% or more of exfoliated nanotube included in the mixture remains after the separating of the nanoplatelet.   
     
     
         30 : A composition produced by the method of  claim 29 . 
     
     
         31 : A method of producing a nanotube, comprising:
 preparing a composition by the method of  claim 29 ; and   isolating the exfoliated nanotube from the composition.   
     
     
         32 : The method of  claim 31 , wherein the isolating of the nanotube comprises at least one of filtering, centrifuging, and drying. 
     
     
         33 : A method of producing a nanotube, comprising:
 preparing a nanocomposite mixture comprising a nanocomposite including at least one nanotube and at least one nanoplatelet;   mixing at least one surfactant with the nanocomposite mixture to obtain a surfactant composition including the nanotube suspended in the surfactant composition;   separating the nanocomposite such that the nanotube remains suspended in the surfactant composition and that the nanoplatelet is precipitated from the surfactant composition; and   isolating the nanotube from the surfactant composition,   wherein the preparing of the nanocomposite mixture comprises:
 preparing a first composition including at least one nanotube oxidized in the first composition; 
 isolating the nanotube from the first composition; 
 re-suspending the nanotube in an aqueous solvent to obtain an oxidized nanotube composition; 
 mixing at least one nanoplatelet with a second composition such that the nanoplatelet is exfoliated in the second composition and that an exfoliated nanoplatelet composition is obtained; and 
 mixing the oxidized nanotube composition and the exfoliated nanoplatelet composition to obtain the nanocomposite mixture, and 
   the surfactant comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant and a cationic surfactant.   
     
     
         34 : The method of  claim 33 , wherein the surfactant is mixed in an amount of between about 0.01 wt % and about 10 wt %. 
     
     
         35 : The method of  claim 33 , wherein the mixing of the at least one surfactant comprises mechanically agitating the nanocomposite mixture. 
     
     
         36 : The method of  claim 33 , wherein the separating of the nanocomposite comprises mixing at least one ionic solution with the composition. 
     
     
         37 : The method of  claim 33 , wherein the isolating of the nanotube comprises:
 functionalizing the nanotube to obtain a functionalized nanotube; and   dispersing the functionalized nanotube in a solvent.   
     
     
         38 : The method of  claim 37 , wherein the functionalizing of the nanotube comprises mixing the surfactant composition with a compound having at least one of an amine group and an amide group. 
     
     
         39 : The method of  claim 37 , wherein the functionalizing of the nanotube comprises mixing the surfactant composition with a compound having an amide group. 
     
     
         40 : The method of  claim 37 , wherein the functionalizing of the nanotube comprises mixing the surfactant composition with a composition including sulfanilamide.