Bright visible emission from carbon nanotubes spatially constrained on a micro-bubble.

ABSTRACT

We report emission of broadband light in the spectral range 500 nm - 900 nm from single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in a liquid environment upon irradiance by a very low power (typically <5 mW), continuous-wave laser source in a tweezers setup. We show (i) formation of micro-bubbles upon irradiation of fluids containing bundles of SWNTs, (ii) optical trapping of such micro-bubbles, (iii) adhesion of SWNTs on the surface of such micro-bubbles, and (iv) bright emission of white light due to tweezer-induced localized heating of spatially-constrained SWNTs.