Luminescent short thiol-functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes

Luminescent short thiol-functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (mean length 100–200 nm) were produced by the reaction between 2-aminoethanethiol molecules and oxidized carbon nanotubes with the aid of a coupling agent in ethanol. After the reactions stop the carbon nanotubes suspension was purified and filtered to separate the shorter carbon nanotubes. The short length carbon nanotubes fraction exhibits an intense luminescence visible to the naked eye. The maximum of the luminescence band and its intensity strongly depends on the excitation wavelength. The sample chemistry and morphology were characterized by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.