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Polarized light microscopy and spectroscopy of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes

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Abstract

Polarized light microscopy (PLM) is used to image individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) suspended in air across a slit opening. The imaging contrast relies on the strong optical anisotropy typical of SWNTs. We combine PLM with a tunable light source to enable hyperspectral excitation spectroscopy and nanotube chirality assignment. Comparison with fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy confirms the assignment made with PLM. This represents a versatile new approach to imaging SWNTs and related structures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Microstructural Sciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0R6

    Jacques Lefebvre & Paul Finnie

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  1. Jacques Lefebvre
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  2. Paul Finnie
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Correspondence to Jacques Lefebvre or Paul Finnie.

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Lefebvre, J., Finnie, P. Polarized light microscopy and spectroscopy of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes. Nano Res. 4, 788–794 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-011-0135-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-011-0135-8

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