Perylene-Based Nanotweezers: Enrichment of Larger-Diameter Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by a novel tweezer-shaped molecule with perylene bisimide moieties that act as aromatic anchoring groups is presented. Encouraging results of the tweezer-dispersion concept is combined with the outstanding exfoliation and dispersion efficiencies of designed perylene bisimide derivatives, which have previously turned out as most-powerful SWCNT dispersants. Based on the preferred interaction between the nano-tweezer and SWCNTs with diameters larger than 0.8 nm, the supernatant was depleted after mild centrifugation in SWCNT species of smaller diameters. Characterization was carried out by a combination of UV/Vis and nIR absorption spectroscopy as well as emission spectroscopy of the SWCNTs and perylene. This study presents the foundation for a further improvement of selective SWCNT dispersion and sorting by designed molecules.