NER: Optically Active Rare Earth Doped Carbon Nanotubes

该提案是应“纳米科学与工程”（NSF 01-157）的要求提交的。 本研究计划旨在论证碳纳米管应用于纳米光电器件的可行性。初步结果表明，在可见光谱中的光学活性与钌的多壁碳纳米管（MWNTs）的添加诱导。该项目将专注于原位掺杂MWNTs与其他光学活性材料，特别是稀土元素，通过在化学气相沉积生长过程中引入适当的有机前体。通过这种化学气相沉积过程，稀土元素将被引入到纳米管结构中，从而导致可见光谱中的发光行为。使用纳米管主体的优点是发光颗粒可以被限制在几纳米的尺寸。由于沉积温度低（~600摄氏度），因此还可以直接将材料直接存款到显示器玻璃和其它器件基板上。该研究计划将支持本科生和研究生的参与，他们将有一个独特的机会，在纳米科学和纳米技术的前沿进行研究。由于纳米管可以在各种设备基板，如硅和玻璃上形成图案，纳米光电子设备的革命性进展，如高分辨率信息显示器现在是可能的。该研究计划将教育本科生和研究生从宾夕法尼亚州立大学在新兴的，跨学科领域的纳米科学和纳米技术。由于这些领域是学术，工业和政府实验室部门的高优先级领域，这些学生将在这些和相关的就业市场上具有很强的竞争力。

This proposal was submitted in response to the solicitation "Nanoscale Science and Engineering" (NSF 01-157). This research project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using carbon nanotubes for nanodimensional optoelectronic devices. Preliminary results have shown that optical activity in the visible spectrum is induced with additions of ruthenium to multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). This project will focus on in-situ doping MWNTs with other optically active materials, in particular rare earth elements, by introducing proper organic precursors during the chemical-vapor-deposition growth. Through this chemical vapor deposition process, rare-earth elements will be introduced into the nanotube architectures, leading to luminescent behavior in the visible spectrum. The advantage of using a nanotube host is that the luminescent particles can be confined to dimensions of a few nanometers. Since the deposition temperatures are low (~600 degrees C) it will also be possible to directly deposit the materials directly onto display glass and other device substrates. The research program will support the involvement of an undergraduate and graduate student, who will have a unique opportunity to pursue research at the cutting edge of nanoscience and nanotechnology.Since nanotubes can be patterned on various device substrates such as silicon and glass, revolutionary advances in nanodimensional optoelectronic devices, such as high-resolution information displays are now possible. The research program will educate both undergraduate and graduate students from the Pennsylvania State University in the emerging, interdisciplinary field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Since these areas are high priority ones in the academic, industrial, and government laboratory sectors, these students will be highly competitive in these and related job markets.