NER: Optically Active Rare Earth Doped Carbon Nanotubes

该提案是响应“纳米尺度科学与工程”（NSF 01-157）的征集而提交的。本研究项目旨在证明碳纳米管用于纳米尺寸光电器件的可行性。初步结果表明，在多壁碳纳米管（MWNTs）中添加钌可以诱导其可见光谱的光学活性。本项目将着重于在化学气相沉积生长过程中引入适当的有机前体，用其他光学活性材料，特别是稀土元素，原位掺杂MWNTs。通过这种化学气相沉积工艺，稀土元素将被引入到纳米管结构中，从而在可见光谱中产生发光行为。使用纳米管宿主的优点是发光粒子可以被限制在几纳米的尺寸内。由于沉积温度很低（~600℃），也可以直接将材料沉积到显示玻璃和其他器件基板上。该研究项目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。由于纳米管可以在硅和玻璃等各种器件基板上进行图像化，因此纳米尺寸光电器件（如高分辨率信息显示器）的革命性进步现在成为可能。该研究项目将在新兴的、跨学科的纳米科学和纳米技术领域教育宾夕法尼亚州立大学的本科生和研究生。由于这些领域是学术、工业和政府实验室部门的重点领域，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.