Enhancement of carbon nanotube photoluminescence by photonic crystal nanocavities

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that photonic crystal nanocavities can significantly enhance the photoluminescence of single-walled carbon nanotubes across various emission wavelengths, enabling improved optical properties for nanotube-based devices.

Contribution

The study introduces a method to enhance nanotube photoluminescence using tunable photonic crystal nanocavities within silicon slabs, showing broad wavelength enhancement.

Findings

Photoluminescence is coupled to nanocavity modes.

Cavity modes can be tuned across nanotube emission wavelengths.

Enhanced emission observed for multiple nanotube chiralities.

Abstract

Photonic crystal nanocavities are used to enhance photoluminescence from single-walled carbon nanotubes. Micelle-encapsulated nanotubes are deposited on nanocavities within Si photonic crystal slabs and confocal microscopy is used to characterize the devices. Photoluminescence spectra and images reveal nanotube emission coupled to nanocavity modes. The cavity modes can be tuned throughout the emission wavelengths of carbon nanotubes, demonstrating the ability to enhance photoluminescence from a variety of chiralities.