Field-Flow Fractionation of Carbon Nanotubes and Related Materials

We propose to develop new applications for Field-Flow Fractionation in the separation and analysis of small particles. Field-Flow Fractionation provides highresolution separation and size analysis of insoluble, particulate materials. 1 FFF combines laminar flow hydrodynamics with a physical field imposed at a 90° angle to the flow. Most previous applications of FFF involve nearly spherical particles, including ceramics, colloidal silica, protein aggregates, etc. In particular, we will use Flow Field-Flow Fractionation, FIFFF, to analyze (1) carbon nanotubes, with aspect ratios in the range of 1000:1; (2) carbonaceous soot. We will also carry out exploratory FFF work on (3) laminar materials such as MOS2and its intercalation compounds; (4) usually-laminar materials in nanofiber form; and (5) semiconductor nanoparticles. The size-classed fractions produced with each analysis will be subjected to electron microscopy, mass spectrometry and other subsequent analyses as appropriate. The project is collaborative between Prof. John P. Selegue, University of Kentucky, and Dr. Vahid Majidi, Los Alamos National Laboratory. Carbon nanotubes will be supplied by collaborators at the University of Kentucky, including Prof. Robert Haddon (Chemistry, Physics and MRSEC for Advanced Carbon Materials), Dr. Aparao Rao (Physics and Center for Applied Energy Research) and Dr. David Jacques (CAER).