Advances in Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction Separations of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) is a rapidly developing scalable separation in which a system of phase-separating polymers isutilized to spatially separate single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) species on the basis of differential partitioning across the polymer phases.  Recently advances have demonstrated that the technique is broadly applicable to the separation of a broad diameter range of nanotube species on the basis of solution composition for surfactant dispersed SWCNTs, with the typical composition needed for extraction of a specific SWCNT species strongly following a diameter dependent trendline.  The basis and applicability of the method will be presented, as well as evolving understanding of the diameter dependence, enantiomeric selection, and specific SWCNT species applications.