project participants at 2010 workshop

Interfacing Carbon Nanotubes with Nanoantennas for Simultaneous Multifunctional Spectroscopy and Electrical Nanocharacterization

The project combines four cutting-edge research areas:

  • Plasmonic devices
  • Single molecule deposition and detection
  • Carbon nanotubes
  • Nanoelectrical measurements

Our central aim is to design and investigate the interface between plasmonic nanoantennas and single molecules in order to allow for the simultaneous optical and electrical characterization of the nanosystems. The nanoantennas are used as an efficient channel for electromagnetic radiation from the far field to the nanometric volume occupied by the single molecule, therefore enhancing its interaction with radiation.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes have been chosen as model molecules:

  • Relatively easy to manipulate and detect
  • Highly informative resonant Raman spectra
  • Fundamental questions related to limitations of current transport

This collaborative project is funded by NanoScience Europe, whose aim is to promote the integration of the national research communities in nanoscience throughout the ERA (European Research Area).

This project was launched in October 2009. Regular email and phone contact between participants is complemented by meetings and workshops. The last annual workshop was held in Berlin in August 2011. The next one-day workshop will be held in Berlin in May 2012.