Carbon nanotube dispersant exchange strategy: a new opportunity for solution-based purification methods

Abstract In the post-Moore era, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation semiconductor materials due to their unique optoelectronic properties. Achieving high-purity, single-chirality separation and precise assembly of SWCNTs via solution-based methods is vital for advancing carbon-based devices. While solution-based purification methods can provide a range of high-purity, single-chiral SWCNT dispersions and their assembled thin films, a major bottleneck persists: transferring SWCNTs from their original separation or dispersion system to the specific media required for practical applications remains technically challenging. Addressing this, dispersant exchange emerges as a key technique, enabling the transfer of SWCNTs between dispersion systems by modifying surface-adsorbed dispersant molecules. Such an approach is crucial for obtaining highly purified SWCNTs tailored for advanced applications. In this perspective, we highlight the central role of dispersant exchange strategies, particularly those occurring across different solvent systems, and explore the growing opportunities for their integration into solution-based purification methods.