Kang, Minsung Kim, Jungmo Lim, Hongjin Ko, Jaehyoung Kim, Hong-Sik Joo, Yongho Moon, Se Youn Jang, Se Gyu Lee, Eunji Ahn, Seokhoon 2024-01-19T08:33:36Z 2024-01-19T08:33:36Z 2023-10-29 2023-09 2079-4991 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/113283 Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were purified without the use of a dispersant by controlling the surface tension and steric repulsion of solvent molecules. This method effectively enhanced the difference in solubilities of impurities and BNNTs. The purification process involved optimizing the alkyl-chains of alcohol solvents and adjusting the concentration of alcohol solvent in water to regulate surface tension and steric repulsion. Among the solvents tested, a 70 wt% t-butylalcohol in water mixture exhibited the highest selective isolation of BNNTs from impurities based on differences in solubilities. This favorable outcome was attributed to the surface tension matching with BNNTs, steric repulsion from bulky alkyl chain structures, and differences in interfacial energy between BNNT-liquid and impurity-liquid interfaces. Through this optimized purification process, impurities were removed to an extent of up to 93.3%. Additionally, the purified BNNTs exhibited a distinct liquid crystal phase, which was not observed in the unpurified BNNTs. English MDPI Eco-Friendly Dispersant-Free Purification Method of Boron Nitride Nanotubes through Controlling Surface Tension and Steric Repulsion with Solvents Article 10.3390/nano13182593 1 Nanomaterials, v.13, no.18 Nanomaterials 13 18 Y scie scopus 001078032600001 2-s2.0-85172799386 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Physics, Applied Chemistry Science & Technology - Other Topics Materials Science Physics Article NANOCOMPOSITES CARBON NANOTUBES EXFOLIATION eco-friendly cosolvent interfacial energy BNNT purification