Exploring the Covalent Doping of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Induced By Photoexcited Hypochlorite

Abstract

Chemical functionalization of the sidewalls of single-wall carbon nanotubes remains a topic of current interest because it can modify and enhance nanotube optical properties. These modifications can shift SWCNT structure-specific optical transitions further into the near-infrared, which may prove useful for applications in bio-imaging or quantum information processing. Here we present a study on the use of photoexcited hypochlorite ions as a reactant to efficiently produce sparse oxygen-containing defects in SWCNTs. Our studies highlight the formation of new secondary reaction products in the absence of dissolved oxygen. These results in combination with quantum computations provide insight into the structure of the new photoadducts. Additionally, we find that product spectra depend on pH of the reacting system, implying more than one reaction pathway. This finding is supported by measurements of the effects of radical quenchers on product properties. Our results provide improved understanding and control of an important class of nanotube functionalization reactions.