A comparison of Raman and photoluminescence spectra for the assessment of single-wall carbon nanotube sample quality

We compare mass-yields, Raman band intensity ratios and photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) of (6,5) single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT), produced by alcohol catalytic chemical vapor deposition at reaction temperatures ranging from 600 degrees C to 850 degrees C. The highest PLQYs for suspensions of unprocessed raw material and for density gradient ultracentrifuged (DGU) samples are obtained if SWNTs were grown at 850 degrees C. Accordingly, the Raman defect band intensity ratios of DGU samples decrease toward the highest CVD growth temperatures. In contrast, PLQYs of non-DGU processed, polydisperse raw material suspensions, do not correlate with commonly used Raman D/G defect band intensity ratios. (c) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.