Unzipping of Single-walled carbon nanotubes for producing Graphene Nano-ribbon

Graphene is a one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon. It is a 2-dimensional nanomaterial. The structure is similar to honeycomb with sp2 hybridized carbon atoms. It possesses noticeable mechanical, electrical, and optical properties[1].

The production method of graphene involves chemical vapour deposition on copper/nickel metal sheet or via chemical/ mechanical exfoliation processes. The mechanical exfoliation process is one of the best technique for achieving defect-free graphene[2]. Graphene nanoribbons (GNR) are 1-dimensional graphene structures whose properties are defined by the width and the thickness of the GNR. This GNR is produced by lithography, chemical technique, and by unzipping nanotubes[3]. Among which unzipping provides mass production option.

The unzipping of the nanotubes can be done via various chemical and chemical-free processes[4], [5]. One of the easiest ways is the oxidative process in which sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate is being used to longitudinally cut the nanotubes which form the nanoribbons[6].

NoPo produces single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) via HiPCO® process which offers the narrow diameter distribution. Thus, unzipping this SWCNT will provide a consistent, single layer, almost similar width GNR. The NoPo HiPCO SWCNT can be purchased for your research via our online portal or by emailing to info@nopo.in. Feel free to contact us to know more about our HiPCO® nanotubes.

References:

[1] A. T. Smith, A. M. LaChance, S. Zeng, B. Liu, and L. Sun, “Synthesis, properties, and applications of graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide and their nanocomposites,” Nano Mater. Sci., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 31–47, Mar. 2019. [2] “The Challenges Facing Graphene Commercialisation,” AZoNano.com, 09-Jan-2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3950. [Accessed: 28-Jul-2019]. [3] D. V. Kosynkin et al., “Longitudinal unzipping of carbon nanotubes to form graphene nanoribbons,” Nature, vol. 458, no. 7240, pp. 872–876, Apr. 2009. [4] S. Mohammadi, Z. Kolahdouz, S. Darbari, S. Mohajerzadeh, and N. Masoumi, “Graphene formation by unzipping carbon nanotubes using a sequential plasma assisted processing,” Carbon, vol. 52, pp. 451–463, Feb. 2013. [5] C. S. Tiwary et al., “Chemical-free graphene by unzipping carbon nanotubes using cryo-milling,” Carbon, vol. 89, pp. 217–224, Aug. 2015. [6] N. L. Rangel, J. C. Sotelo, and J. M. Seminario, “Mechanism of carbon nanotubes unzipping into graphene ribbons,” J. Chem. Phys., vol. 131, no. 3, p. 031105, Jul. 2009.