Modulating single-walled carbon nanotube opto-electronic properties by chromophore confinement
Résumé
Opto-electronic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes can be significantly modified by chromophore confinement into their hollow core. For instance, charge transfers are evidenced from Raman data analysis. First, by exciting nanotubes far from the optical absorption of the molecule, the Raman G-band signal exhibits a weak but significant up or downshift depending on the nanotube diameters. This behavior is consistent with a permanent electron transfer to the nanotube in the framework of the renormalization process 1. In addition, close to the molecule resonance, the magnitude of the G-band shift is enhanced for small diameter tubes, evidencing a photo-induced electron transfer. Finally, the Breit-Wigner-Fano lineshape (characteristic of electron-phonon coupling) of the Raman G-band can be strongly reduced for defective metallic nanotubes. After molecule functionalization, this peculiar profile is recovered, suggesting a back donation of electrons to the nanotube. Photoluminescence properties of semiconducting nanotubes are also significantly modified by chromophore confinement. The nanotube emission intensity is amplified after encapsulation. This exaltation depends on the nanotube diameter, and can be related to diameters exactly fitting the molecule size. The origin of the photoluminescence enhancement will be discussed.