Research Summary

Dr. R. Bruce Weisman and his group investigate the spectroscopy and photophysics of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. All of these are closed nanoscopic structures formed from carbon atoms. Fullerenes, such as C60, C70, and their chemical derivatives, have unusual molecular properties that cause interesting behaviors following the absorption of light. Time-resolved absorption and emission methods are used to study radiationless decay, photochemical reactions, and energy transfer in fullerenes. Another major research topic is single-walled carbon nanotube spectroscopy. Following the discovery in Weisman’s lab of near-infrared nanotube fluorescence, the group has measured and unraveled the absorption and emission spectra of more than 30 semiconducting nanotube species. Follow-up projects include detailed elucidation of nanotube electronic structure, as well as applications in non-invasive biomedical imaging and analytical nanotechnology.