Abstract
We show that optical forces acting on carbon nanotubes are substantially enhanced when the optical wavelength is tuned to resonances in the electronic band structure. Using a tunable laser source, we experimentally demonstrate a resonant optical scattering force on single-walled carbon nanotubes and, by tuning the wavelength, exploit this force to achieve chirality enrichment of four chiralities of nanotubes. Our results represent a significant step towards optical manipulation and sorting of carbon nanotubes based on their chiral vector.
- Received 25 September 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.3.044003
© 2015 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Sorting Carbon Nanotubes with Light
Published 9 April 2015
Laser light can be used to sort carbon nanotubes according to their chirality.
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