The optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes

This thesis concerns the optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). SWNTs have unique electronic and optical properties that have great potential in technology. The SWNT spectroscopy methods and optical properties reported here may facilitate the implementation of SWNTs in technology.;SWNT synthesis and purification are limiting factors in the optical research of SWNTs, and several synthesis and purification methods reported here minimize sample limitations. Here, I report a new synthesis method of reducing SWNT bundling by using a patterned template in combination with chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Purification by dispersing samples in suspensions is a commonly used method, but limited to liquid phase experiments. Here I report two methods of reducing SWNT bundling in non-aqueous samples. The spin-coating of SWNT suspensions produces dispersed samples for use in single SWNT spectroscopy, and cross-linking of SWNT suspensions produces dense solid films for use in ensemble SWNT spectroscopy and other optical applications.;Single SWNT spectroscopy confirmed reported assignment of SWNT optical properties to their structures, and showed several optical characteristics that are unique to SWNTs, such as absence of fluorescence blinking at room-temperature.