Advancing the Photophysics of Carbon Nanotubes

技术：本项目涉及两个相关研究领域：1)利用光物理学探索单壁碳纳米管的特定缺陷，以确定其作为激光激发能量和缺陷尺寸的函数的特定行为；2)双壁碳纳米管（DWNTs）的相关研究，其实际应用潜力以及它们与双层石墨烯的概念关系；该方法侧重于将给定（n,m）管作为DWNT的组成部分时的行为与作为单壁纳米管（SWNT）时的行为进行比较。研究的基本问题是，当一个或两个石墨烯片以平面结构存在时，或者当它们被卷起形成SWNT、DWNT或最终形成多壁碳纳米管（MWNTs）时，它们的行为是不同的。共振拉曼散射被用来探测管曲率的影响，以及管及其邻近管是半导体还是金属的影响。非技术：该项目涉及与技术相关的材料科学和凝聚态物理主题领域的基础研究问题，并有望为跨学科领域的研究生和本科生提供独特的培训机会。预计该项目还将产生更广泛的影响，通过一名在世界范围内享有研究领导声誉的女性PI榜样的指导，培训这一研究领域的男女领导人。PI将继续她的多种方法和活动，通过向普通观众进行邀请演讲，通过为美国政府（作为能源部氢技术咨询委员会成员），工业实验室和专业协会（作为美国物理研究所董事会主席）提供咨询工作，向公众描述纳米科学和纳米技术的进展。她还担任了国家研究委员会2010年凝聚态物质和材料物理十年研究的联合主席。她将继续在多所大学为本科生和研究生举办指导会议。该项目由DMR电子材料和凝聚态物理项目共同支持。

Technical: This project addresses two related research areas: 1) use of photophysics to explore specific defects in single wall carbon nanotubes, to determine their specific behavior as a function of laser excitation energy and defect size, and 2) related research involving double wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) stimulated by their potential for practical applications, and by their conceptual relation to double layer graphene; the approach focuses on the behavior of a given (n,m) tube when it is the constituent of a DWNT as compared to its behavior when it is a single wall nanotube (SWNT). The fundamental issue under scrutiny is the difference between the behavior of one or two graphene sheets as they exist in their planar structure or when they are rolled up to form SWNT, DWNT or eventually multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Resonance Raman scattering is utilized to probe the effect of tube curvature and the effect of whether a tube and its neighboring tubes are semiconducting or metallic. Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science and condensed matter physics with technological relevance, and is expected to provide unique opportunities for graduate and undergraduate training in an interdisciplinary field. The project is also expected to have broader impacts through the training of women and men leaders in this research field through mentorship by a female PI role model who has established a world wide reputation as a research leader. The PI will continue her multiple approaches and activities to describe advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology to the public through invited talks to general audiences, through advisory work for the US Government (as a member of the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Committee of the DOE), industrial laboratories and professional societies (as Chair of the Board of the American Institute of Physics), and through her co-chairmanship of the Decadal Study on Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 2010 of the National Research Council. Her service in holding mentoring sessions for undergrads and graduate students at numerous universities will continue. This project is co-supported by the DMR Electronic Materials and Condensed Matter Physics Programs.