Electroabsorption study of index-defined semiconducting carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that electroabsorption spectroscopy can directly probe excitonic states in index-defined semiconducting carbon nanotubes, revealing a proportional relationship with exciton binding energy and potential for future photonic device applications.

Contribution

The paper introduces high-definition electroabsorption spectroscopy as a method to directly identify nanotube chirality and study excitonic properties.

Findings

Electroabsorption spectra are directly proportional to exciton binding energy.

Electroabsorption can identify nanotube chirality with high precision.

Potential application in in situ studies of excitons in nanotube-based devices.

Abstract

Electroabsorption spectroscopy of well-identified index-defined semiconducting carbon nanotubes is reported. The measurement of high definition electroabsorption spectra allows direct indexation with unique nanotube chirality. Results show that at least for a limited range of diameters, electroabsorption is directly proportional to the exciton binding energy of nanotubes. Electroabsorption is a powerful technique which directly probes into carbon nanotube excitonic states, and may become a useful tool for in situ study of excitons in future nanotube-based photonic devices such as electroabsorption modulators.