Gel electrophoresis and Raman mapping for determining the length distribution of SWCNTs

By combining gel electrophoresis (GEP) and simultaneous Raman scattering and photoluminescence spectroscopy (SRSPL), a new method (GEP-SRSPL) was established, both theoretically and experimentally, to characterize the length distribution of individualized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). With an individualized SWCNT sample prepared by sonication and ultracentrifugation, both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and GEP-SRSPL were applied for examining its length distribution. The results show good agreement, which validates the GEP-SRSPL method as a viable and easy-to-operate technique in characterizing the length distribution of SWCNTs.