Electric field quenching of carbon nanotube photoluminescence

Nano Lett. 2008 May;8(5):1527-31. doi: 10.1021/nl0800974. Epub 2008 Apr 23.

Abstract

The effect of external electric fields on the photoluminescence intensity of single-walled carbon nanotubes was investigated for individual nanotubes and bulk samples in polymeric films. Fields of up to 10(7) V/m caused dramatic, reversible decreases in emission intensity. Quenching efficiency varied as the cosine of the angle between the field and nanotube axis and decreased with increasing optical band gap. Photoluminescence intensity was found to follow a reciprocal hyperbolic cosine dependence on electric field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Light
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods*
  • Materials Testing
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / radiation effects*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure
  • Photochemistry / methods*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon