Coating single-walled carbon nanotubes with cadmium chalcogenides

Abstract

Non-covalently functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been coated with CdE (E = S, Se) by liquid phase deposition (LPD) from aqueous and hydrocarbon solution. The coating of individual SWNTs versus small ropes or composite structures is controlled by the use of SDS surfactant SWNTs and the relative concentration of the SWNTs and the cadmium source. Coating reactions in non-aqueous systems result in either composite formation or incomplete coatings. The CdE-SWNTs have been characterized by SEM, TEM, EDX, and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman fluoresence of the SWNTs is maintained at 90% with coatings of CdS > 5 nm.