Sensors: Near Infrared Fluorescent Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Solution Phase Optical Sensing Materials

本计画的目标是发展一种新型的感测材料，以单壁奈米碳管的近红外萤光为基础，来侦测溶液相的分子。 碳纳米管是一种在红外区发出荧光的电子材料。 广泛的生物相关介质中的散射和自发荧光阻止了可见光谱中的准确荧光检测。 单壁碳纳米管是理想的传感材料，其直径接近1 nm，长度跨越几微米。 它们的几何形状在分子探针中是独特的。 它们在接近弹道的条件下或以最小的散射在大距离上传导电子。 这为强大的传感技术提供了基础，因为纳米管表面的大面积对单分子吸附事件敏感。 纳米管表面上的吸附物可以定位价电子或相反地向导带提供电子密度，并且任一事件都被记录为纳米管光发射性质的变化。 该项目将解决实现这一目标的三个技术障碍：（i）了解分子-纳米管表面相互作用及其对光学性质的影响，特别是极性诱导的溶剂化变色位移和电荷转移相互作用;（ii）设计吸附界面，以在纳米管表面引入对所需分子的特异性;（iii）设计纳米管表面的吸附界面。和（iii）工程工作传感器装置，用于在非常规介质如高度混浊的溶液或生物相关介质中进行分子检测。 该项目还将开发新的课程材料，并将参与提高代表性不足群体学生参与度的计划。 还计划开展活动，让公众参与科学和技术专题。

The goal of this project is to develop a new class of sensing materials for solution phase detection of molecules based on the near-infrared fluorescence of single walled carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are a part of a select class of electronic materials that fluoresce in the infrared region. Scattering and auto-fluorescence in a wide range of biologically relevant media prohibit accurate fluorescent detection in the visible spectrum. Single walled carbon nanotubes are ideal sensing materials, having diameters near 1 nm and lengths spanning several microns. Their geometry is unique among molecular probes. They conduct electrons under near ballistic conditions or over large distances with minimal scattering. This provides the basis for powerful sensing technologies because large areas of the nanotube surface are sensitive to single molecule adsorption events. Adsorbates on the surface of a nanotube can localize valence electrons or conversely donate electron density to the conduction band and either event is registered as a change in the nanotube optical emission properties. This project will address three technological hurdles towards this goal: (i) understanding the molecule-nanotube surface interactions and their effect on optical properties, particularly polarity induced solvatochromic shifts and charge transfer interactions; (ii) designing adsorbed interfaces to introduce specificity at the nanotube surface towards desired molecules; and (iii) engineering working sensor devices for molecular detection in unconventional media such as highly turbid solutions or biological relevant media. The project will also develop new coursework material and will participate in program that improves participation of students from under-represented groups. Activities in the engagement of the public in topics of science and technology are also planned.