Reductive dissolution is a promising processing route for single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) that
avoids the damage caused by ultrasonication and aggressive oxidation whilst simultaneously allowing
access to a wealth of SWCNT functionalisation reactions. Here, reductive dissolution has been simplified
to a single one-pot reaction through the use of sodium naphthalide in dimethylacetamide allowing
direct synthesis of SWCNT Na+ solutions. Gram quantities of SWCNTs can be dissolved at concentrations
over 2 mg mL 1
. These reduced SWCNT solutions can easily be functionalised through the addition of
alkyl halides; reducing steric bulk of the grafting moiety and increasing polarisability of the leaving group
increases the extent of functionalisation. An optimised absolute sodium concentration of 25 mM is
shown to be more important than carbon to metal ratio in determining the maximum degree of
functionalisation. This novel dissolution system can be modified for use as a non-destructive purification
route for raw SWCNT powder by adjusting the degree of charging to dissolve carbonaceous impurities,
catalyst particles and defective material, before processing the remaining SWCNTs.