Solubility of Mo6S4.5I4.5 Nanowires in Common Solvents: A Sedimentation Study

• DOI: 10.1021/jp045166r
• Publication Date: 2005-04-14T06:31:51Z
• Authors: Valeria Nicolosi; Daniel Vrbanic; Ales Mrzel; Joe McCauley; Seán O'Flaherty; Cormac McGuinness; Giuseppe Compagnini; Dragan Mihailovic; Werner J. Blau; Jonathan N. Coleman
• Keywords: Dispersity; Sedimentation

Due to their ease of fabrication and monodisperse, metallic nature, molybdenum-sulfur-iodine nanowires are an interesting alternative carbon nanotubes for some applications. However very little is known about the solubility these materials. In this work we have investigated Mo(6)S(4.5)I(4.5) nanowire soot in a range common solvents by performing sedimentation studies microscopic spectroscopic characterization. A equation was derived showing that concentration any insoluble dispersed phase decreases exponentially with time. We find all solvents, contains three phases, two which one stable phase. Microscopy spectroscopy show first associated mainly spherical impurities sediments rapidly out solution resulting purification. The second appears consist bundles more slowly, eventually leaving dispersion bundles. stably tend be smaller than counterparts. best studied were 2-propanol dimethylformamide. showed that, case 2-propanol, sonication significantly reduced bundle size relative unsonicated bulk. However, during sedimentation, large quantities observed reaggregate form larger subsequently sedimented solution. general, properties various phases did not vary indicating intrinsically insoluble. diameter decreased concentration, until small consisting only or at concentrations below 0.003 mg/mL. addition, composite dispersions produced mixing poly(vinylpyrrolidone) opening way formation polymer/inorganic composites.