Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Structural and optical properties

This work contains investigation results of the structural and optical properties for solutions as well as thin films containing single-walled carbon nanotubes. To investigate the optical properties 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes were dispersed in low concentration aqueous SDS solution. The same solutions were used to fabricate thin films. The films were successfully grown by spin-coating technique in ambient atmosphere on transparent and semiconductor substrates. Spectral properties of the solutions and thin films were examined using Transmission, Photoluminescence, Third Harmonic Generation or Z-Scan techniques. The experimental spectra and theoretical calculation allowed to determine optical constant of the investigated material. We find that the chiral Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes show transmission and emission bands not only in IR range but also UV-VIS range. Two-photon absorption of the Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes differs significantly from other carbon allotrope - fullerenes and shows saturable absorption's character. Moreover, the value of the two-photon absorption coefficient is comparable.