Search

Abstract: We have synthesized double wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) with few defects and little amorphous carbon by hot wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of alcohol. Catalysts for the DWNT growth were made from cobalt and molybdenum acetates. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, multi frequency resonance Raman spectroscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy were used for characterization of the product with regard to DWNT yield, the nanotube diameter distribution, defect concentration and amorphous carbon content. Base pressures lower than 1×10−5 mbar in the CVD reactor considerably suppress defects in the DWNTs. Optimized growth conditions for DWNT formation are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A review of the electronic dipole transitions in graphite and single-wall carbon nanotubes is presented. Because of its singular electronic structure, the optical absorption matrix element as a function of wave vector has a node in the two-dimensional Brillouin zone of graphite, which depends linearly on the optical polarization direction. In the case of the single-wall carbon nanotubes, the dipole selection rule and the van Hove singularity in the joint density of states will give a characteristic behavior, which is observed by luminescence and resonance Raman spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the N = 9 atoms wide armchair-type graphene nanoribbons (9-AGNRs) by performing a comprehensive spectroscopic and microscopic characterization of this novel material. In particular, we use X-ray photoelectron, near edge X-ray absorption fine structure, scanning tunneling, polarized Raman and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) spectroscopies. The ARPES measurements are aided by calculations of the photoemission matrix elements which yield the position in k space having the strongest photoemission cross section. Comparison with well-studied narrow N = 7 AGNRs shows that the effective electron mass in 9-AGNRs is reduced by two times and the valence band maximum is shifted to lower binding energy by ∼0.6 eV. In polarized Raman measurements of the aligned 9-AGNR, we reveal anisotropic signal depending upon the phonon symmetry. Our results indicate the 9-AGNRs are a novel 1D semiconductor with a high potential in nanoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The second order Raman signals around the G′-band region of graphite and carbon nanotubes have been investigated at more than 15 excitation laser lines. Two distinct Raman bands have been observed around 2700cm−1; a prominent one is due to the so-called G′-band and the other is a weak band around 2450cm−1. Both two bands can be from the double resonance process involving two phonons around the K-point in the phonon dispersion of a two-dimensional graphite. The 2450cm−1-band has exhibited little power dependence, whereas the intensity of G′-band has shown large photon energy dependence as already reported. The 2450cm−1-band and the G′-band correspond to non-dispersive q =0 and fully-dispersive q =2k, respectively. From the phonon dispersion and the corresponding phonon frequency, the 2450cm−1-band can be assigned as an overtone mode of LO phonon (i.e. 2LO). This is revealed by calculated Raman spectra of graphite with proper electron–phonon matrix elements. The present study is the first report on the origin and assignment of the 2450cm−1-band, which is based on the double resonance Raman scattering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Environmental monitoring of aquatic systems is the key requirement for sustainable environmental protection and future drinking water supply. The quality of water resources depends on the effectiveness of water treatment plants to reduce chemical pollutants, such as nitrates, pharmaceuticals, or microplastics. Changes in water quality can vary rapidly and must be monitored in real-time, enabling immediate action. In this study, we test the feasibility of a deep UV Raman spectrometer for the detection of nitrate/nitrite, selected pharmaceuticals and the most widespread microplastic polymers. Software utilizing artificial intelligence, such as a convolutional neural network, is trained for recognizing typical spectral patterns of individual pollutants, once processed by mathematical filters and machine learning algorithms. The results of an initial experimental study show that nitrates and nitrites can be detected and quantified. The detection of nitrates poses some challenges due to the noise-to-signal ratio and background and related noise due to water or other materials. Selected pharmaceutical substances could be detected via Raman spectroscopy, but not at concentrations in the µg/l or ng/l range. Microplastic particles are non-soluble substances and can be detected and identified, but the measurements suffer from the heterogeneous distribution of the microparticles in flow experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of lithium atoms' evaporation on the surface of monolayer MoS2 grown on SiO2/Si substrate is studied using ultrahigh vacuum (∼10−11 mbar) Raman and circularly polarized photoluminescence spectroscopies, at low lithium coverage (up to ∼0.17 monolayer). With increasing Li doping, the dominant E 2 g 1 and A1g Raman modes of MoS2 shift in energy and broaden. Additionally, non zone-center phonon modes become Raman active. This regards, in particular, to double resonance Raman scattering processes, involving longitudinal acoustic phonon modes at the M and K points of the Brillouin zone of MoS2 and defects. It is also accompanied by a significant decrease in the overall intensity and the degree of circular polarization of the photoluminescence spectrum. The observed changes in the optical spectra are understood as a result of electron doping by lithium atoms and disorder-activated intervalley scattering of electrons and holes in the electronic band structure of monolayer MoS2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]