Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Fluorescence Modulation In Response to Hydrogel Swelling

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) fluoresce is still a new and exciting area of research. Modulation of SWNT fluorescence has previously been demonstrated by adsorption of electron withdrawing molecules[1,2], DNA rearrangement due to cation adsorption[3] and via DNA hybridization on the SWNT surface[4]; however, new methods to modulate SWNT fluorescence will allow SWNT use in new applications. We demonstrate that SWNT immobilized in a poly(vinyl) alcohol hydrogel show shifts in fluorescence emission maxima during hydrogel swelling / deswelling. The mechanism of SWNT fluorescence modulation and potential applications of SWNT based hydrogels will be discussed.

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4. Jeng, E.S.; et al. Nano Letters (2006), 6, 371-375.