Studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions

<p>This thesis reports studies done on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using optical spectroscopy as the primary investigative technique. It focuses on advances in sample preparation which have been made possible through improvements to the method of photo-luminescence excitation (PLE)...

Cur síos iomlán

Sonraí bibleagrafaíochta
Príomhchruthaitheoir: Nish, A
Rannpháirtithe: Nicholas, R
Formáid: Tráchtas
Teanga:English
Foilsithe / Cruthaithe: 2008
Ábhair:
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author Nish, A
author2 Nicholas, R
author_facet Nicholas, R
Nish, A
author_sort Nish, A
collection OXFORD
description <p>This thesis reports studies done on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using optical spectroscopy as the primary investigative technique. It focuses on advances in sample preparation which have been made possible through improvements to the method of photo-luminescence excitation (PLE) mapping of nanotubes.</p> <p>An introduction to the field and some theoretical models are presented initially to provide a background to the experimental chapters which follow. A description of the standard procedure for sample preparation in aqueous surfactants is then followed by a detailed introduction to PLE mapping, including modeling of SWNT spectra. The next chapter discusses improvements to the sample preparation method by using organic polymer solutions instead of aqueous surfactants for suspending the nanotubes. The results show reductions in the distribution of SWNT species which are solubilised, leading to significant improvements in the resolution of the optical absorbance spectra and an increased photoluminescence yield.</p> <p>Two experiments which were performed on the novel polymer-SWNT systems are then described. The first shows (via PLE mapping) that energy is transfered to the SWNTs when the polymer is photo-excited. The possible mechanisms behind this, as well as the implications for using carbon nanotubes as an additive in polymer photovoltaics, are discussed. The second experiment details a recent magneto-PL study of SWNTs embedded in films produced from the polymer solutions. Here, the improved optical signatures and absence of strain at low temperatures have revealed a previously unseen high field intensity dependence. The behavior has been explained by the magnetic field induced mixing of the excitonic states.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:1ecd4f04-0178-4d8b-bf3a-cd6f8d744b922024-12-01T17:21:01ZStudies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensionsThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:1ecd4f04-0178-4d8b-bf3a-cd6f8d744b92NanostructuresPhysical SciencesCondensed Matter PhysicsAdvanced materialsMaterials SciencesPhysicsNanomaterialsEnglishOxford University Research Archive - Valet2008Nish, ANicholas, R<p>This thesis reports studies done on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using optical spectroscopy as the primary investigative technique. It focuses on advances in sample preparation which have been made possible through improvements to the method of photo-luminescence excitation (PLE) mapping of nanotubes.</p> <p>An introduction to the field and some theoretical models are presented initially to provide a background to the experimental chapters which follow. A description of the standard procedure for sample preparation in aqueous surfactants is then followed by a detailed introduction to PLE mapping, including modeling of SWNT spectra. The next chapter discusses improvements to the sample preparation method by using organic polymer solutions instead of aqueous surfactants for suspending the nanotubes. The results show reductions in the distribution of SWNT species which are solubilised, leading to significant improvements in the resolution of the optical absorbance spectra and an increased photoluminescence yield.</p> <p>Two experiments which were performed on the novel polymer-SWNT systems are then described. The first shows (via PLE mapping) that energy is transfered to the SWNTs when the polymer is photo-excited. The possible mechanisms behind this, as well as the implications for using carbon nanotubes as an additive in polymer photovoltaics, are discussed. The second experiment details a recent magneto-PL study of SWNTs embedded in films produced from the polymer solutions. Here, the improved optical signatures and absence of strain at low temperatures have revealed a previously unseen high field intensity dependence. The behavior has been explained by the magnetic field induced mixing of the excitonic states.</p>
spellingShingle Nanostructures
Physical Sciences
Condensed Matter Physics
Advanced materials
Materials Sciences
Physics
Nanomaterials
Nish, A
Studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions
title Studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions
title_full Studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions
title_fullStr Studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions
title_full_unstemmed Studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions
title_short Studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions
title_sort studies on optical characterisation of carbon nanotube suspensions
topic Nanostructures
Physical Sciences
Condensed Matter Physics
Advanced materials
Materials Sciences
Physics
Nanomaterials
work_keys_str_mv AT nisha studiesonopticalcharacterisationofcarbonnanotubesuspensions