Provided is a process for preparing a composition comprising semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes, a semiconducting polymer and solvent A (composition A), which process comprises the step of separating composition A from a composition comprising semiconducting and metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes, the semiconducting polymer and solvent B (composition B), wherein the semiconducting polymer has a band gap in the range of 0.5 to 1.8 eV and solvent A and B comprise an aromatic or a heteroaromatic solvent, composition A itself, a process for forming an electronic device, which process comprises the step of forming a layer by applying composition A to a precursor of the electronic device, as well as the electronic device obtainable by this process.

The object of the present invention is to provide a separation method and a separation apparatus for carbon nanotubes capable of separating a mixture of carbon nanotubes in a highly efficient, inexpensive and simple manner. The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube separation method comprising: a step of preparing a dispersion liquid including a mixture of two or more types of carbon nanotubes having different zeta potentials; a step of introducing the dispersion liquid into a flow path formed between a first electrode having holes for allowing the dispersion liquid to pass therethrough, and a second electrode arranged so as to face the first electrode; a step of applying a DC voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode while the dispersion liquid is flowing through the flow path; and, a step of continuously collecting a dispersion liquid including carbon nanotubes separated to a first electrode side upon application of the voltage from an opposite side to the flow path with respect to the first electrode, and at the same time, continuously collecting a dispersion liquid including carbon nanotubes separated to a second electrode side from a downstream side of the flow path.

The object of the present invention is to provide a separation method and a separation apparatus for carbon nanotubes capable of separating a mixture of carbon nanotubes in a highly efficient, inexpensive and simple manner. The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube separation method comprising: a step of preparing a dispersion liquid including a mixture of two or more types of carbon nanotubes having different zeta potentials; a step of introducing the dispersion liquid into a flow path formed between a first electrode having holes for allowing the dispersion liquid to pass therethrough, and a second electrode arranged so as to face the first electrode; a step of applying a DC voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode while the dispersion liquid is flowing through the flow path; and, a step of continuously collecting a dispersion liquid including carbon nanotubes separated to a first electrode side upon application of the voltage from an opposite side to the flow path with respect to the first electrode, and at the same time, continuously collecting a dispersion liquid including carbon nanotubes separated to a second electrode side from a downstream side of the flow path.

A method termed “superacid-surfactant exchange” (S2E) for the dispersion of carbon nanomaterials in aqueous solutions. This S2E method enables nondestructive dispersion of carbon nanomaterials (including single-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, and graphene) at rapidly and at large scale in aqueous solution without a requirement for expensive or complicated equipment. Dispersed carbon nanotubes obtained from this method feature long length, low defect density, high electrical conductivity, and in the case of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes, bright photoluminescence in the near-infrared.

A method termed “superacid-surfactant exchange” (S2E) for the dispersion of carbon nanomaterials in aqueous solutions. This S2E method enables nondestructive dispersion of carbon nanomaterials (including single-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, and graphene) at rapidly and at large scale in aqueous solution without a requirement for expensive or complicated equipment. Dispersed carbon nanotubes obtained from this method feature long length, low defect density, high electrical conductivity, and in the case of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes, bright photoluminescence in the near-infrared.

A method for carbon nanotube purification, preferably including: providing carbon nanotubes; depositing a mask; and/or selectively removing a portion of the mask; and optionally including removing a subset of the carbon nanotubes and/or removing the remaining mask.

A method for carbon nanotube purification, preferably including: providing carbon nanotubes; depositing a mask; and/or selectively removing a portion of the mask; and optionally including removing a subset of the carbon nanotubes and/or removing the remaining mask.

Provided is a fibrous carbon nanostructure that is easy to surface modify. A symmetry factor of a peak of a first derivative curve of a thermogravimetric curve obtained through thermogravimetric analysis of the fibrous carbon nanostructure in a dry air atmosphere is 3.70 or less. The first derivative curve of the thermogravimetric curve can be a temperature derivative curve of the thermogravimetric curve or a time derivative curve of the thermogravimetric curve.

Some embodiments provide methods and systems for creating ladder/standards as quality control tools for length-based separation of carbon nanotubes; determining the length purity; or measuring distribution of lengths of a collection of carbon nanotubes. Some embodiments further provide methods and systems for dispersing carbon nanotubes by conjugation of the carbon nanotubes with biomolecule moieties, specifically proteins. Further, some embodiments provide an indicator for length-based separation of carbon nanotubes via conjugation of one or more biomolecules onto the surfaces of the nanotubes. In some embodiments, such a method can include conjugating a biomolecule to the carbon nanotubes and subjecting the conjugated carbon nanotubes to silver-stained gel electrophoresis to separate the conjugated carbon nanotubes based on their lengths.

Some embodiments provide methods and systems for creating ladder/standards as quality control tools for length-based separation of carbon nanotubes; determining the length purity; or measuring distribution of lengths of a collection of carbon nanotubes. Some embodiments further provide methods and systems for dispersing carbon nanotubes by conjugation of the carbon nanotubes with biomolecule moieties, specifically proteins. Further, some embodiments provide an indicator for length-based separation of carbon nanotubes via conjugation of one or more biomolecules onto the surfaces of the nanotubes. In some embodiments, such a method can include conjugating a biomolecule to the carbon nanotubes and subjecting the conjugated carbon nanotubes to silver-stained gel electrophoresis to separate the conjugated carbon nanotubes based on their lengths.