dc Josephson effect in metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes

The dc Josephson effect is investigated in a single-walled metallic carbon nanotube connected to two superconducting leads. In particular, by using the Luttinger liquid theory, we analyze the effects of the electron-electron interaction on the supercurrent. We find that in the long junction limit the strong electronic correlations of the nanotube, together with its peculiar band structure, induce oscillations in the critical current as a function of the junction length and/or the nanotube electron filling. These oscillations represent a signature of the Luttinger liquid physics of the nanotube, for they are absent if the interaction is vanishing. We show that this effect can be exploited to reverse the sign of the supercurrent, realizing a tunable π-junction.     

Interband magneto-optics in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have carried out magneto-absorption and magneto-photoluminescence experiments on micelle-suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes in magnetic fields up to 45 T. Chirality-assigned spectral peaks exhibit significant changes with increasing magnetic field, which can be quantitatively explained in terms of the theoretically predicted splittings and redshifts of the band edge due to the Aharonov–Bohm effect combined with the magnetic-field-induced alignment of the nanotubes.     

Axial-strain-induced torsion in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Using classical molecular dynamics and empirical potentials, we show that the axial deformation of single-walled carbon nanotubes is coupled to their torsion. The axial-strain-induced torsion is limited to chiral nanotubes-graphite sheets rolled around an axis that breaks its symmetry. Small strain behavior is consistent with chirality and curvature-induced elastic anisotropy (CCIEA)-carbon nanotube rotation is equal and opposite in tension and compression, and decreases with curvature and chirality. The large-strain compressive response is remarkably different. The coupling progressively decreases, in contrast to the tensile case, and changes its sign at a critical compressive strain. Thereafter, it untwists with increasing axial strain and then rotates in the opposite direction, i.e., the same sense as under tension. This suggests that the response is now dictated by a combination of nonlinear elasticity and CCIEA.     

Parametric instabilities in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Parametric instabilities induced by the coupling excitation between the high frequency quantum Langmuir waves and the low frequency quantum ion-acoustic waves in single-walled carbon nanotubes are studied with a quantum Zakharov model. By linearizing the quantum hydrodynamic equations, we get the dispersion relations for the high frequency quantum Langmuir wave and the low frequency quantum ion-acoustic wave. Using two-time scale method, we obtain the quantum Zaharov model in the cylindrical coordinates. Decay instability and four-wave instability are discussed in detail. It is shown that the carbon nanotube＇s radius, the equilibrium discrete azimuthal quantum number, the perturbed discrete azimuthal quantum number, and the quantum parameter all play a crucial role in the instabilities.     

Conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes

In a system of N interacting single-level quantum dots (QDs), we study the relaxation dynamics and the current–voltage characteristics determined by symmetry properties of the QD arrangement. Different numbers of dots, initial charge configurations, and various coupling regimes to reservoirs are considered. We reveal that effective charge trapping occurs for particular regimes of coupling to the reservoir when more than two dots form a ring structure with the C_N spatial symmetry. We reveal that the effective charge trapping caused by the C_N spatial symmetry of N coupled QDs depends on the number of dots and the way of coupling to the reservoirs. We demonstrate that the charge trapping effect is directly connected with the formation of dark states, which are not coupled to reservoirs due to the system spatial symmetry C_N. We also reveal the symmetry blockade of the tunneling current caused by the presence of dark states.     

Nucleation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The nucleation pathway for single-wall carbon nanotubes on a metal surface is demonstrated by a series of total energy calculations using density functional theory. Incorporation of pentagons at an early stage of nucleation is energetically favorable as they reduce the number of dangling bonds and facilitate curvature of the structure and bonding to the metal. In the presence of the metal surface, nucleation of a closed cap or a capped single-wall carbon nanotube is overwhelmingly favored compared to any structure with dangling bonds or to a fullerene.     

Hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Towards the development of a useful mechanism for hydrogen storage, we have studied the hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotubes with atomic hydrogen using core-level photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. We find that atomic hydrogen creates C-H bonds with the carbon atoms in the nanotube walls, and such C-H bonds can be completely broken by heating to 600 degrees C. We demonstrate approximately 65 +/- 15 at % hydrogenation of carbon atoms in the single-walled carbon nanotubes, which is equivalent to 5.1 +/- 1.2 wt % hydrogen capacity. We also show that the hydrogenation is a reversible process.     

Optical anisotropy in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Optical anistropy at optical communication wavelength was observed in films of vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). We report the control of both the polarization state and transmission of incoming light at 1550 nm by azimuthal and axial tilting of SWNT film about its aligned axis. The experiments reveal that the polarization state of light is susceptible to the azimuthal angle of the aligned direction of a SWNT having semiconductor characteristics and the intensity of the output beam after SWNT film shows cosine function dependence on the axial tilting angle.     

Ester-functionalized soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report the preparation of soluble ester- functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (sSWNT-COO(CH₂)₁₇CH₃). By use of solution phase IR spectroscopy we are able to compare the ratio of the carbon atoms in the SWNT backbone to the carbon atoms in the ester and amide functionalities of s-SWNTs. Received: 16 July 2001 / Accepted: 3 December 2001 / Published online: 4 March 2002     

Electron-hole plasma excitations in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We study theoretically the π-electron-hole plasma excitations in single-walled metallic carbon nanotubes within the framework of the classical electrodynamics. The π-electrons and holes of the nanotubes are described by means of the two-fluid hydrodynamic theory. Numerical results show that the low-energy excitations are in qualitative agreement with low-frequency excitations (π plasmon) in experimental observations in the case where the π-electron and hole effective masses are nearly equal.     

All-optical trion generation in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We present evidence of all-optical trion generation and emission in pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Luminescence spectra, recorded on individual SWCNTs over a large cw excitation intensity range, show trion emission peaks redshifted with respect to the bright exciton peak. Clear chirality dependence is observed for 22 separate SWCNT species, allowing for determination of electron-hole exchange interaction and trion binding energy contributions. Luminescence data together with ultrafast pump-probe experiments on chirality-sorted bulk samples suggest that exciton-exciton annihilation processes generate dissociated carriers that allow for trion creation upon a subsequent photon absorption event.     

Photophysics of polymer-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are successfully dispersed in two conjugated polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) and poly[2-methoxy-5- (2’-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEHPPV) solutions. Steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy in the near-infrared and visible spectral regions are used to study the interaction of the dispersed carbon nanotube and the wrapped polymer in the nano-hybrids. The SWNTs infrared emission is the signatures of the separation of single semiconducting tubes, the lifetime of the photoluminescence of these tubes is bi-exponential with the first component varying from 6 ps (in MEHPPV wrapped SWNTs) to 14 ps (in PFO wrapped SWNTs), while the second component of the decay for all samples is in the range of 30-40 ps, revealing the intrinsic lifetime of the SWNTs. The study of the photoluminescence of the nano-hybrids in the visible spectral range shows, in the case of the PFO, a relatively strong quenching, the photoluminescence lifetime for the hybrid is more than 100 ps shorter than the one of the pristine polyfluorene solution. For the MEHPPV-SWNT hybrid an opposite behavior is revealed with the photoluminescence lifetime surprisingly longer than the polymer solution. The possible mechanism for the interaction of the two conjugated polymers and the SWNTs is discussed in terms of their electronic band structure.     

Superconductivity in ropes of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report measurements on ropes of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in low-resistance contact to nonsuperconducting (normal) metallic pads, at low voltage and at temperatures down to 70 mK. In one sample, we find a 2 orders of magnitude resistance drop below 0.55 K, which is destroyed by a magnetic field of the order of 1 T, or by a dc current greater than 2.5 microA. These features strongly suggest the existence of superconductivity in ropes of SWNT.     

Flame synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Flames offer potential for synthesis of carbon nanotubes in large quantities at considerably lower costs than that of other methods currently available. This study aims to examine conditions for carbon nanotube formation in premixed flames and to characterize the morphology of solid carbon deposits and their primary formation mechanisms in the combustion environment. Single-walled nanotubes have been observed in the post-flame region of a premixed acetylene/oxygen/15 mol% argon flame operated at 6.7 kPa with Fe(CO)₅ vapor used as a source of metallic catalyst necessary for nanotube growth. Thermophoretic sampling and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the solid material present in the flame at various heights above burner (HAB), giving a resolution of formation dynamics within the flame system. Catalyst particle formation and growth is observed to dominate the immediate post-flame region (10–40 mm HAB). Nanotubes were observed to be present after 40 mm HAB with nanotube inception occurring as early as 30 mm HAB. Between 40 and 70 mm HAB, nanotubes are observed to coalesce into clusters. A nanotube formation ‘window’ is evident with formation limited to fuel equivalence ratios between 1.5 and 1.9. A continuum of morphologies ranging from relatively clean clusters of nanotubes to amorphous material is observed between these lower and upper limits. High-resolution TEM and Raman spectroscopy revealed nanotube bundles with each nanotube being single-walled with diameters between 0.9 and 1.5 nm.     

单壁纳米碳管的声子谱研究

通过五步旋转操作方便地得到了不同位置原子间的力常数矩阵，从而可以使对各种不同类型管的声子谱的计算变得简便. 计算表明，非螺旋的扶手椅型（n, n）管与锯齿型(n, 0)管的非简并和二重简并模式数分别为12和6(n-1)，这与从群论等方法所得结果相符. 关键词： 纳米碳管 声子谱 振动模式密度 动力学矩阵     

Bactericidal action of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The action of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on cells of the genetically engineered K12 TG1 strain of Escherichia coli, which have a luminescent phenotype generated by the cloning of the lux operon of the native luminescent marine bacterium Photobacterium leiognathi into the strain, is studied in this work. The survival rate of the bacterial cells and their morphological changes are studied by means of atomic force microscopy as a function of their exposure to SWCNTs.     

Terahertz current oscillations in single-walled zigzag carbon nanotubes

We report time-dependent terahertz current oscillations on an n=10 single-walled zigzag carbon nanotube (CNT) that is 100 nm long. To obtain transport characteristics in this CNT, we developed an ensemble Monte Carlo (MC) simulator, which self-consistently calculates the electron transport and electrical potential. The ensemble MC simulations indicate that, under certain dc bias and doping conditions, the average electron velocity and concentration oscillate. This leads to current oscillations in space and time, on the tube, and at the contacts. We attribute this to accumulation and depletion of the CNT electrons at different locations on the tube, giving rise to low and high density electron regions. These local dipoles are a result of intra- and intersubband scatterings and different subband dispersion relations. This in turn forms propagating dipoles and current oscillations.     

单层碳纳米管的磁输运特性

依据磁场中Boltzmann输运方程及单层磁纳米管(SWNTs)的能量色散关系,对单个SWNTs中轴向磁场诱发的低温磁阻进行了数值计算.分析表明:当电子以低能输运时,SWNTs的磁阻有明显的Aharonov-Bohn(A-B)效应,与并SWNTs的能隙相对应.     

Ultrafast spectroscopy of excitons in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We studied the femtosecond dynamics of photoexcitations in films containing semiconducting and metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), using various pump-probe wavelengths and intensities. We found that confined excitons and charge carriers with subpicosecond dynamics dominate the ultrafast response in semiconducting and metallic SWNTs, respectively. Surprisingly, we also found from the exciton excited state absorption bands and multiphoton absorption resonances in the semiconducting nanotubes that transitions between subbands are allowed; this unravels the important role of electron-electron interaction in SWNT optics.