Nanotube content in arc generated carbon powder

A novel experimental technique for the separation of nanotubes from other unwanted carbon species in arc generated carbon soot is described. A conjugated polymer was used to bind to nanotubes in solution. The resultant hybrid was soluble, whereas extraneous carbon material formed a sediment at the bottom of the sample bottle. The process was monitored using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy showing that 63% of nanotubes were kept in solution and 98.1% of impurities were rejected. This non-destructive purification allowed the calculation of the nanotube content in the carbon soot using EPR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The measurement of nanotube content gave a purity value of 34% for the soot used in this study; this is compatible with estimates from electron microscopic determinations.