Soluble Carbon Nanotubes and Application to Electrochemistry

One of the key issues in the utilization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for basic researches as well as their applications is to develop a methodology to solubilize/disperse them in solvents. In this review articles, we first summarize individual solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in solvents using surfactants, polycylcic aromatic molecules, DNA and condensed polymers. We then describe a novel method determining the electronic states of individually dissolved SWNTs having an own chirality index based on the analysis of Nernst equation. We also introduce our recent approach toward the fabrication of a novel catalyst for fuel cell that works at a nonhumid atmosphere using solubilized CNTs as material.