Well-dispersed and functionalized carbon nanotubes exhibited visible fluorescence emissions due to passivated defects on the nanotube surface. It was found that the defects in nanotubes could be decorated using an inorganic salt which augmented the passivation effect of organic functionalization and resulted in markedly enhanced emission intensities under both one- and two-photon excitation conditions. The structures and properties of the functionalized carbon nanotubes with an inorganic coating were characterized by using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Fluorescence decoration with the coating could serve as a tool for the study of surface defects in carbon nanotubes, and the brightly fluorescent pseudo one-dimensional nanomaterials could be exploited for optical applications.

Fluorescence Decoration of Defects in Carbon Nanotubes. X.Wang, L.Cao, C.E.Bunker, M.J.Meziani, F.Lu, E.A.Guliants, Y.P.Sun: Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2010, 114[49], 20941-6