title: Bright fluorescence from individual single-walled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have unique photophysical properties but low fluorescence efficiency. We have found significant increases in the fluorescence efficiency of individual DNA-wrapped SWNTs upon addition of reducing agents, including dithiothreitol, Trolox, and β-mercaptoethanol. Brightening was reversible upon removal of the reducing molecules, suggesting that a transient reduction of defect sites on the SWNT sidewall causes the effect. These results imply that SWNTs are intrinsically bright emitters and that their poor emission arises from defective nanotubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, United States.
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smyder
authors.forename: Bradford
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loesch
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Todd D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Krauss
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005453:Fluorescence; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000295:instrumentation*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon