Carbon nanomaterials can undergo selective functionalization or defunctionalization in the presence of near-infrared electromagnetic radiation. In particular, semiconducting carbon nanotubes can be selectively functionalized or defunctionalized over metallic carbon nanotubes, which can allow their purification and/or separation to take place. Functionalizing methods can include exposing a carbon nanomaterial to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 700 nm or greater, and reacting at least a portion of the carbon nanomaterial with a reactive medium in the presence of the electromagnetic radiation to form a functionalized carbon nanomaterial. In the absence of the electromagnetic radiation, the carbon nanomaterial is unreactive with the reactive medium. Defunctionalizing methods can take place similarly in the absence of the reactive medium. Photochemical reactors incorporating a recirculation loop and a near-infrared electromagnetic radiation source can be used in functionalization and defunctionalization methods. In-line sonication can also be provided in the photochemical reactors.

According to example embodiments, a method includes dispersing carbon nanotubes in a mixed solution containing a solvent, the carbon nanotubes, and a dispersant, the carbon nanotubes including semiconducting carbon nanotubes, the dispersant comprising a polythiophene derivative including a thiophene ring and a hydrocarbon sidechain linked to the thiophene ring. The hydrocarbon sidechain includes an alkyl group containing a carbon number of 7 or greater. The hydrocarbon sidechain may be regioregularly arranged, and the semiconducting carbon nanotubes are selectively separated from the mixed solution. An electronic device includes semiconducting carbon nanotubes and the foregoing described polythiophene derivative.

Polymers having pendant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups covalently bound to the polymer backbone via thioester bonds are provided. The PAH groups are covalently bound to the backbone of the polymer by a molecular linker that includes a thioester bond. Also provided are dispersions of polymer-coated carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube films formed from the dispersions.

Disclosed are methods for decapping single wall carbon nanotubes and purifying the decapped single wall carbon nanotubes. The disclosed methods include the steps of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the terminal end cap and subsequently acid washing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the catalyst particles. The resulting carbon nanotubes have improved BET surface area and pore volume.

A metal balloon catheter having a main tubular body, a metal balloon proximate a distal end of the main tubular body, a central annulus extending along an entire longitudinal aspect of the catheter for accommodating a guidewire therethrough and an inflation annulus adjacent the central annulus which extends along the longitudinal axis of the main tubular body and terminates in fluid flow communication with an inflation chamber of the metal balloon. The metal balloon catheter may be either unitary integral metal catheter in which the main tubular body and the balloon are fabricated of metal, or it may consist of a polymeric main tubular body and a metal balloon.

A nanosensor for detecting molecule characteristics includes a membrane having an opening configured to permit a charged carbon nanotube to pass but to block a molecule attached to the carbon nanotube. The opening is filled with an electrolytic solution. An electric field generator is configured to generate an electric field relative to the opening to drive the charged carbon nanotubes through the opening. A sensor circuit is coupled to the electric field generator to sense current changes due to charged carbon nanotubes passing into the opening, and to bias the electric field generator to determine a critical voltage related to a force of separation between the carbon nanotube and the molecule.

A multi-walled titanium-based nanotube array containing metal or non-metal dopants is formed, in which the dopants are in the form of ions, compounds, clusters and particles located on at least one of a surface, inter-wall space and core of the nanotube. The structure can include multiple dopants, in the form of metal or non-metal ions, compounds, clusters or particles. The dopants can be located on one or more of on the surface of the nanotube, the inter-wall space (interlayer) of the nanotube and the core of the nanotube. The nanotubes may be formed by providing a titanium precursor, converting the titanium precursor into titanium-based layered materials to form titanium-based nanosheets, and transforming the titanium-based nanosheets to multi-walled titanium-based nanotubes.

Provided is a method of producing isolated graphene sheets directly from a carbon/graphite precursor. The method comprises: (a) providing a mass of halogenated aromatic molecules selected from halogenated petroleum heavy oil or pitch, coal tar pitch, polynuclear hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof; (b) heat treating this mass at a first temperature of 25 to 300 C. in the presence of a catalyst and optionally at a second temperature of 300-3,200 C. to form graphene domains dispersed in a disordered matrix of carbon or hydrocarbon molecules, and (c) separating and isolating the planes of hexagonal carbon atoms or fused aromatic rings to recover graphene sheets from the disordered matrix.

A process is disclosed for removing impurities from a carbon nanotube structure and then orienting the nanotubes within the structure. The process may use environmentally benign materials and minimize damage to the carbon nanotubes. The process may provide a cost-effective way to manufacture nanomaterials based macroscopic parts and components, whose properties approach to those of the individual nanoparticles.

The Present teachings provide, in part, methods of separating two-dimensional nanomaterials by atomic layer thickness. In certain embodiments, the present teachings provide methods of generating graphene nanomaterials having a controlled number of atomic layer(s).