Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) consist of a hexagonal network of carbon atoms (a graphite sheet) rolled up into a cylinder. Typically the length of SWNTs is on the order of a few microns, while the diameter can be less than one nanometer. Unique properties of the carbon-carbon bond make NTs extremely strong, but they are also very flexible. SWNTs are potentially useful for applications in diverse areas such as molecular electronics, biotechnology, and energy storage. We have several projects centered around studies of SWNT electronic properties using diverse spectrometric methods. For example, shown in the figure is an absorption and a fluorescence spectrum from an ensemble of SWNTs. At the moment we are conducting photoluminescence spectrometry on individual SWNTS, and determing their excited state dynamics using ultrafast spectroscopy. We are also using directed self assembly to construct individual semiconductor nanocrystal - SWNT heterostructures for applications in photoinduced charge transport at the nanometer scale.
