Bundling and diameter selectivity in HiPco SWNTs poly(p-phenylene vinylene-co-2,5-dioctyloxy-m-phenylene vinylene) composites

Temperature-dependent (TD) Raman measurements at laser excitation 514.5 nm were performed at different concentrations. The spectral profile of the radial breathing modes were investigated up to a polymer concentration of 1 g/L and were found to be dominated by ∼ 1.2- 1.4 nm diameter tubes at room temperature. Upon heating above the glass transition of the polymer (60 °C) the smaller tubes around ∼0.9 nm increased significantly in relative intensity. This suggests that below the glass transition of the polymer (60 °C) RBMs within the composite are damped and spectral changes cannot be interpreted as diameter selective solubilization. The observed RBM damping at room temperature only occurred up to a concentration of ∼ 1.2 × 10^-4 g/L and below this no damping was observed. Photoluminescence intensity (PL) measurements were taken for a range of PmPV concentrations, in which HiPco single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at 100%, 10%, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0% mass fractions were added. Fitting of the concentration dependence to a dynamic absorption/desorption model indicates that the polymer interacts with nanotube bundles until a critical concentration of ∼1.2 × 10 ^-4 g/L is reached, below which the nanotubes are isolated. The polymer and or solvent has a significant effect on the debundling and aggregation within these systems. Aggregation and/or interaction with the polymer at higher concentrations can effect the RBM profile in the composite at ambient temperatures, providing an incomplete representation of the selection of diameters present within composites at a particular wavelength.