Raman Spectroscopy and SEM Study of SWNTs in Aqueous Solution and Films with Surfactant or Polymer Surroundings

Abstract

Raman spectra of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in aqueous solutions with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) or fragmented single‐stranded DNA (ss‐DNA) and films obtained from these solutions have been studied. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) film study shows that micelles formed by SDS molecules around SWNT in solution do not keep individual nanotubes from sticking together in bundles during drying out the film. DNA wrapped around SWNT precludes the full nanotubes sticking in the film that facilitates the following splitting of these bundles.

Keywords:

• Carbon nanotubes
• sodium dodecylsulfate
• DNA
• Raman spectroscopy
• scanning electron microscopy