Advancing the Photophysics of Carbon Nanotubes

技术：本项目涉及两个相关的研究领域：1)利用光物理来探测单壁碳纳米管中的特定缺陷，确定其作为激光激发能量和缺陷大小的函数的特定行为；2)涉及双壁碳纳米管(DWNT)的相关研究，这些研究受到其潜在的实际应用以及它们与双层石墨烯的概念关系的刺激；该方法侧重于给定的(n，m)管在作为DWNT组成时的行为与其作为单壁纳米管(SWNT)时的行为进行比较。研究中的基本问题是一个或两个石墨烯薄片在平面结构中存在的行为差异，或者当它们卷起形成单壁碳纳米管、双壁碳纳米管或最终形成多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)时的行为差异。共振拉曼散射被用来探测管曲率的影响，以及管子及其邻近的管子是半导体还是金属的影响。非技术性：该项目涉及与技术相关的材料科学和凝聚态物理等专题领域的基础研究问题，预计将为跨学科领域的研究生和本科生培训提供独特的机会。预计该项目还将产生更广泛的影响，通过培训这一研究领域的男女领导人，由一名已确立世界研究领导者声誉的女性国际榜样进行指导。通过邀请公众进行演讲，通过为美国政府(作为能源部氢气技术咨询委员会的成员)、工业实验室和专业学会(作为美国物理研究所理事会主席)提供咨询工作，以及通过她作为国家研究委员会2010年凝聚态物质和材料物理十年研究的联合主席，PI将继续她的多种方法和活动，向公众描述纳米科学和纳米技术的进展。她在许多大学为本科生和研究生举办导师会议的服务将继续下去。该项目得到了DMR电子材料和凝聚态物理项目的共同支持。

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.