Single walled carbon nanotube length determination by asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation hyphenated to multi-angle laser-light scattering

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AFlFFF) hyphenated to multi-angle laser-light scattering (MALS) was evaluated in order to determine single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) length distribution. Fractionation conditions were investigated by examining mobile phase ionic strength and pH, channel components and cross-flow rate. Ammonium nitrate-based mobile phase with 10−5 mol L−1 ionic strength and pH 6 allows the highest sample recovery (89 ± 3%) to be obtained and the lowest loss of the longest SWCNT. A cross-flow rate of 0.9 mL min−1 leads to avoid any significant membrane–sample interaction. Length was evaluated from gyration radius measured by MALS by comparing SWCNT to prolate ellipsoid. In order to validate the fractionation and the length determination obtained by AFlFFF-MALS, different SWCNT aliquots were collected after fractionation and measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). AFlFFF is confirmed to operate in normal mode over 100–2000 nm length. MALS length determination after fractionation is found to be accurate with 5% RSD. Additionally, a shape analysis was performed by combining gyration and hydrodynamic radii.