Diameter-Selective Solubilization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Reversible Cyclic Peptides

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 127; no. 26; pp. 9512 - 9517
• Main Authors: Ortiz-Acevedo, Alfonso, Xie, Hui, Zorbas, Vasiliki, Sampson, William M, Dalton, Alan B, Baughman, Ray H, Draper, Rockford K, Musselman, Inga H, Dieckmann, Gregg R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 06-07-2005
• Subjects: Amino Acids - chemistry; Animals; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Cyclization; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Molecular Structure; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Peptides, Cyclic - chemistry; Physics; Solubility; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Atomic force microscopy; Near infrared spectrometry; Singlewalled nanotube; Functionalization; Cyclic peptides; Optical properties; Disulfides; Carbon nanotubes; Solubilization; Raman spectroscopy; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja050507f

We have utilized reversible cyclic peptides (RCPs)peptides containing alternating l- and d-amino acids with N- and C-termini derivatized with thiol-containing groups allowing reversible peptide cyclizationto solubilize and noncovalently functionalize carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) in aqueous solution. Solubilization occurs through wrapping of RCPs around the circumference of a SWNT, followed by the formation of head-to-tail covalent bonds, yielding closed rings on the nanotubes. By controlling the length of the RCPs, we have demonstrated limited diameter-selective solubilization of the SWNTs as revealed by UV/vis/NIR and Raman spectroscopies, as well as atomic force microscopy.