Solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes with condensed aromatic compounds

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been in the forefront of nanoscience and nanotechnology because of their remarkable electronic, mechanical and thermal properties and specific functions. CNTs have high potentials for possible applications in the fields of energy, electronics, IT and materials. However, because of the insolubility of the nanotubes in solvents, chemical, biochemical and biological (medical) approaches using these materials have been rather limited. Soluble CNTs in aqueous and organic systems are of interests since they may open the door in such fields. In this review article, our concept to obtain individually dissolved single-walled CNTs using synthetic and biological compounds carrying a condensed aromatic and their fundamental properties is summarized. (c) 2006 NIMS and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.