Optical characterisation of carbon-nanohorn based nanofluids for solar energy and life science applications

Single Wall Carbon Nanohorns (SWCNHs) are innovative carbon nanostructures belonging to the thriving family of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. They have being studied up to now mainly as non-cytotoxic drug carriers, but they are interesting for a huge number of applications such as electronics, hydrogen and methane storage and renewable energies. In this paper we investigate their optical properties in view of their use as direct sunlight absorbers in solar thermal devices and as reference standard in Biological Tissue Optics.