Effectiveness of sorting single-walled carbon nanotubes by diameter using polyfluorene derivatives

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) sorted by conjugated polymers are of great interest for electronic and optoelectronic applications. Here we demonstrate by optical methods that the selectivity of conjugated polymers for semiconducting SWCNTs is influenced by the structure of their side-chains and/or the molecular weight of the macromolecules, and that side chain functionalities determine the solubility in different dispersion media. Moreover, high resolution time-resolved photoluminescence measurements provide evidence of energy transfer from tubes with larger band gaps compared to those with smaller band gaps coexisting in SWCNT bundles.

SWCNT dispersion is influenced by the molecular weight and the structure of the side chain of the polymer. Time-resolved photoluminescence provide evidence of energy transfer from tubes with larger band gap to those with smaller band gap.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► SWCNTs sorted by polymers are of great interest for electronic applications.
► The selectivity of polymers for SWCNTs is influenced by the structure of their side-chains and molecular weight.
► Time-resolved PL provide evidence of energy transfer in SWCNT bundles.