Nanotubes and methods of dispersing and separating nanotubes

A nanostructure comprising:

• at least one nanotube;
• at least one chemical, moiety non-covalently attached to the at least one nanotube, wherein the at least one chemical moiety is one of a soluble polymer, a soluble oligomer, and combinations thereof;
• wherein the at least one chemical, moiety enhances dispersion of the at least one nanotube;
• and
• at least one dendrimer bonded to the at least one chemical moiety,
• wherein the at least one chemical moiety comprises a soluble oligomer,
• wherein the soluble oligomer comprises a conjugated soluble oligomer,
• wherein the conjugated soluble oligomer comprises an azo dye, and
• wherein the azo dye comprises 3,3′-[[1,1′-Biphenyl]4,4′-diylbis(azo)]-bis[4-amino-1-naphtalenesulfonic acid] disodium salt.

A method of dispersing at least one nanotube, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one nanotube and at least one chemical moiety to the solvent, wherein at least one dendrimer is bonded to the at least one chemical moiety;
• debundling the at least one nanotube;
• non-covalently attaching the at least one chemical moiety to the at least one nanotube, wherein the at least one non-covalently attached chemical moiety disperses the at least one nanotube, and
• wherein the at least one dendrimer comprises a polybenzyl ether dendrimer.

A method of dispersing at least one nanotube, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one nanotube and at least one chemical moiety to the solvent, wherein at least one dendrimer is bonded to the at least one chemical moiety;
• debundling the at least one nanotube;
• non-covalently attaching the at least one chemical moiety to the at least one nanotube, wherein the at least one non-covalently attached chemical moiety disperses the at least one nanotube,
• wherein the at least one chemical moiety comprises a soluble oligomer,
• wherein the soluble oligomer comprises a conjugated soluble oligomer,
• wherein the conjugated soluble oligomer comprises an azo dye, and
• wherein the azo dye comprises 3,3′-[[1,1′-Biphenyl]-4,4′-diylbis(azo)]-bis[4-amino-1-naphtalenesulfonic acid] disodium salt.

A nanostructure comprising:

• a) at least one semi-conducting carbon nanotube;
• b) at least one conjugated soluble polymer non-covalently attached to the at least one semi-conducting carbon nanotube, wherein the at least one conjugated soluble polymer enhances dispersion of the at least one semi-conducting carbon nanotube;
• and wherein the at least one conjugated soluble polymer comprises at least one of a polythiophene, a polyfluorene and combinations thereof;
• and
• c) at least one dendrimer bonded to the at least one conjugated soluble polymer, and
• wherein the at least one dendrimer comprises a polybenzyl ether dendrimer.

A method of selectively separating at least one semi-conducting carbon nanotube, the method, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of carbon nanotubes and at least one conjugated soluble polymer to a solvent, wherein at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes is semi-conducting;
• debundling at least a portion of the plurality of carbon nanotubes;
• non-covalently attaching the at least one conjugated soluble polymer to at least one semi-conducting carbon nanotubes, wherein the at least one non-covalently attached conjugated soluble polymer disperses the at least one semi-conducting carbon nanotube;
• and
• separating the at least one semi-conducting carbon nanotube non-covalently attached to the at least one conjugated soluble polymer, and
• wherein the at least one conjugated soluble polymer comprises at least one of a polythiophene a polyfluorene and combinations thereof, wherein the polyfluorene has a carbon chain in a range from C4 to C18, wherein the polyfluorene comprises dihexylpolyfluorene, wherein the at least one conjugated soluble polymer comprises a polyfluorene, and wherein the at least one dendrimer comprises a polybenzyl ether dendrimer.