Investigation of Covalent Functionalized Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Abstract

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) of functionalization HiPco single wall carbon nanotubes are performed. SWCNTs with covalently bonded amine groups were investigated using SERRS assessing the impact of altering the electronic arrangement of the nanotube surface. The Raman frequencies of tangential, disorder modes and radial breathing modes have been used to make comparison between SWCNTs conjugated with a molecular side group and pristine SWCNT. Excitation of nanotube samples at wavelengths in resonance with both metallic and semiconductor nanotubes was undertaken. The SERRS spectra show shifts in the RBM and G mode band positions similar to reported shifts reported in normal Raman studies of SWCNTs with molecular groups covalently added, these shifts were assigned to arise from perturbation of the SWCNT electron density. This study shows that literature reported shifts in normal Raman for SWCNTs with covalently bonded molecules can be also seen in SERRS

Silvia Giordani

Full Professor Chair of Nanomaterials

My research interests are in the design, synthesis, and characterization of hybrid smart nanomaterials for biomedical, energy and environmental applications