Soluble carbon nanotubes and their applications

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the forefront of nanoscience and nanotechnology due to their unique electrical and mechanical properties and specific functions. However, due to their poor solubility in solvents, the applications using the materials have been limited. Therefore, strategic approaches toward the solubilization of CNTs are important in wide fields including chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biology, pharmaceuticals, and medical sciences. In this article, we summarize: (i) the strategic approaches toward the solubilization of CNTs using chemical and physical modifications, (ii) nanocomposites of CNTs and biological molecules including DNA, (iii) formation of CNTs with topological structures, (iv) separation of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes, (v) the preparations of films and fibers of CNTs and hybrid materials of CNTs and organic and inorganic molecules.