Optical properties of semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are highly dependent on the environmental and physical state of these nanostructures.  Molecular adsorption, charge transfer, and bundling all contribute to low fluorescence quantum yield, but covalent functionalization is particularly known to eliminate SWNT fluorescence.  However, recent studies have indicated that the location of organic functional groups on the SWNT lattice has a dramatic effect on optical properties.  Functional banded SWNTs created by the Billups-Birch reduction propagation chemistry maintain optical absorption and fluorescence characteristics associated with non-functionalized SWNTs. Two new peaks are also observed on the fluorescence spectra. Systematic investigation of the dependence on degree of functionalization, functional groups and reduction chemistry suggests these peaks derive from exciton trapping by functional bands and possibly the reduced SWNT state due to localization of electrons at defect sites.

Three peak-single chirality fluorescence of functional banded single wall carbon nanotubes

244th National Meeting (2012)

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