To date, literature has demonstrated cellular uptake/toxicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with limited understanding of the toxicity mechanisms. Moreover, classical colloidal literature has shown that aggregate structure plays a key role on the fate and transport of such materials. However, there has been no study that determines fractal dimension (Df) of SWNTs. This study systematically determines Df of SWNTs as a function of chirality in environmental and biologically relevant chemistries. Angle-dependent static light scattering (SLS) technique is employed to measure Df of carboxylated SWNTs with specific, i.e., (6,5) and (7,6), and mixed chiralities at both reaction and diffusion limited aggregation regimes. The SLS-intensity data are collected for the entire scattering range (Guinier through Fractal to Porod regimes, i.e., 12-150�). Detailed physicochemical characterizations are performed using NIR, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, and electrophoretic mobility measurements. Df data thus obtained will establish structure-property relations for SWNTs with respect to environmental fate and effects.

Fractal structures of single-walled carbon nanotubes in environmental and biologically relevant aqueous conditions: Role of chirality

241st National Meeting (2011)

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