Migration Behavior of Carbon Nanotube in Capillary Electrophoresis with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Water-Soluble Nonionic Polymer

Single-walled carbon natobube (SWCNT) was dispersed in an aqueous surfactant solution, and the dispersion of CNT was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The dispersion was evaluated through a broad peak of the electropherograms, while the aggregation of the CNT was attributed to the shot signals in the electropherograms. Water-soluble nonionic polymer was also added in the separation buffer to examine the dispersion in the surfactant solution as well as to control the migration behavior. Polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinylpyrrolidone were examined. The electrophoretic mobility of the broad peak got smaller with increasing concentrations of the polymer examined. The theoretical number of plates of the broad peak was improved by the addition of the polymer. Moderately broad peak was preferable for the dispersion of the SWCNT in the surfactant solution.