Measuring single-wall carbon nanotubes with solid-state nanopores.

Solid-state nanopores have been used widely to study biological polymers. Here, we expand the technique to analyze single-wall carbon nanotubes. By wrapping them in an amphiphilic layer, individual tubes can be translocated electrically through a nanopore, resulting in temporary interruptions in the trans-pore current reminiscent of measurements on DNA, RNA, and proteins. The technique may find use in discriminating nanotubes by size and thus electrical structure, facilitating their inclusion in electrical devices.