Summary
Individually dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with the conductivity of metals or semiconductors solely are essential for his or her functions in electronics, optics and magnetism. On this work, 5 fragrant polyimides with various backbones had been initially utilized to the research on the dispersion of arc-discharge SWNTs. Spectroscopic characterizations by vis-NIR absorption and Raman scattering verify that the polyimide molecules possess varied selective dispersing capability towards semiconducting SWNTs. The efficient dispersion of SWNTs is a results of the spirally wound polyimides round SWNTs dictated by the π-π stacking interactions between the spine of polyimides and the floor of SWNTs, and the selectivity in semiconducting SWNTs is attributable to the cost switch from polyimide molecules to SWNTs. The assorted dispersing behaviors of the polyimides towards SWNTs might be accounted for by the distinction in fragrant floor space and suppleness of their backbones.