LDRD final report : energy conversion using chromophore-functionalized carbon nanotubes.

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/990068· OSTI ID:990068

Vance, Andrew L; Zifer, Thomas; Zhou, Xinjian; Leonard, Francois Leonard; Wong, Bryan Matthew; Kane, Alexander; Katzenmeyer, Aaron Michael; Krafcik, Karen Lee

With the goal of studying the conversion of optical energy to electrical energy at the nanoscale, we developed and tested devices based on single-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with azobenzene chromophores, where the chromophores serve as photoabsorbers and the nanotube as the electronic read-out. By synthesizing chromophores with specific absorption windows in the visible spectrum and anchoring them to the nanotube surface, we demonstrated the controlled detection of visible light of low intensity in narrow ranges of wavelengths. Our measurements suggested that upon photoabsorption, the chromophores isomerize to give a large change in dipole moment, changing the electrostatic environment of the nanotube. All-electron ab initio calculations were used to study the chromophore-nanotube hybrids, and show that the chromophores bind strongly to the nanotubes without disturbing the electronic structure of either species. Calculated values of the dipole moments supported the notion of dipole changes as the optical detection mechanism.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 990068
• Report Number(s): SAND2010-5999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
AZO COMPOUNDS
CARBON
DESIGN
DIPOLE MOMENTS
Direct energy conversion.
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELECTROSTATICS
ENERGY CONVERSION
Energy conversion-Technological innovations.
NANOTUBES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
VISIBLE RADIATION