Optoelectronic properties of noncovalently functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) are an attractive platform for applications in optoelectronics and photovoltaics. Although they have desirable electrical properties, CNT are insoluble in most organic solvents thus hindering their chemical manipulation. CNT can be noncovalently functionalized with a combination of Zn(II) metalloporphyrin complex 2 and a cis-protected Pd(II) complex 3 in aqueous solutions of acetonitrile. The resulting solubilized CNT composite 1 was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The optoelectronic properties of the CNT composite 1 within a nanotube field-effect transistor device were presented. The individual components (2 and 3) and the supramolecular complex changed the electronic properties of CNT. Differences in conductance between CNT and functionalized CNT were discussed. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 230th ACS National Meeting (Washington, DC 8/28/2005-9/1/2005).