Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have the potential to revolutionize nanoscale electronics and power sources; however, their low purity and high separation cost limit their use in practical applications. Here we present a supramolecular chemistry-based one-pot, less expensive, scalable, and highly efficient separation of a solubilizer/adsorbent-free pure semiconducting SWCNT (sc-SWCNT) using flavin/isoalloxazine analogues with different substituents. On the basis of both experimental and computational simulations (DFT study), we have revealed the molecular requirements of the solubilizers as well as provided a possible mechanism for such a highly efficient selective sc-SWCNT separation. The present sorting method is very simple (one-pot) and gives a promising sc-SWCNT separation methodology. Thus, the study provides insight for the molecular design of an sc-SWCNT solubilizer with a high (n,m)-chiral selectivity, which benefits many areas including semiconducting nanoelectronics, thermoelectric, bio and energy materials, and devices using solubilizer-free very pure sc-SWCNTs.

The formation of micellar solutions with hydrophilic surfactants is generally used to include oily substances into transparent water-based formulae. However, a restriction exists on hydrophilic surfactants due to their sticky feeling arising from long hydrophilic groups. We found a stable transparent dispersion of a lipophilic polyether-modified silicone PEMS in combination with an ionic surfactant by a certain procedure. Various analyses revealed that it is a 10 100 nm sized vesicle micelle complex consisting of bi-molecular membranes. Although there are several reports on the vesicle formation of PEMS, the practical stability has been insufficient because of the high fluidity of the membrane. The present vesicle micelle complex can solubilize silicone oils, which have been considered difficult, resulting in a feature of good spreadability onto surfaces. In addition to that, it shows a non-sticky, highly permeable feeling owing to the formation of a lamellar liquid crystalline phase by a water evaporation on application despite the high glycerol concentration. The present moisturizing lotion fulfilled mutually exclusive events of high skin hydration to prepare for future skincare items a moisturizing lotion with an important function and a highly comfortable texture.

We summarize a supramolecular chemistry-based one-pot, and highly efficient separation of a solubilizer/adsorbent-free pure semiconducting SWCNT (sc-SWCNT) using flavin/isoalloxazine analogues with different substituents. On the basis of both experimental and computational simulations (DFT study), we have revealed the molecular requirements of the solubilizers as well as provided a possible mechanism for such a highly efficient selective sc-SWCNT separation[1]. We introduced thio-substituents at 7- and 8-positions of a flavin analogue, which allows for coordination of metal ions. Based on both experimental and theoretical methods, we have demonstrated that the formed Cu2+-based supramolecular assembled complex shows very high selective sorting of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes with (8,6)- and (9,4)-chiralities[2]. The present sorting methods are very simple (one-pot) and gives a promising sc-SWCNT separation methodology. References [1] N. Nakashima, M. Fukuzawa, K. Nishimura, T. Fujigaya, Y. Kato, A. Staykov, “Supramolecular chemistry-based one-pot high-efficient separation of solubilizer-free pure semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes: molecular strategy and mechanism”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 11847-11856 [2] A. Staykov, W. Hashimoto, F. Toshimitsu, N. Nakashima, “A Flavin-Cu2+ Supramolecular Complex for Highly Selective Sorting of Semiconducting Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Specific Chiralities, ChemComm. 2020, 56, 12415-12418