Covalently porphyrin-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes: a novel photoactive and optical limiting donor-acceptor nanohybrid

Novel covalently porphyrin-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been synthesized by the reaction of SWNTs with in situ generated porphyrin diazonium compounds. The resulting nanohybrid was characterized by spectroscopic (UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR and Raman) and microscopic (TEM and AFM) methods. The Raman and absorption spectroscopy data showed that the electronic properties of the modified tubes were mostly retained, without damaging their one-dimensional electronic properties. The fluorescence from the porphyrin moiety was almost completely quenched by SWNTs, indicating that the unique direct linkage mode facilitated the effective energy and electron transfer between the excited porphyrin moiety and the extended pi-system of SWNTs. This novel nanohybrid material also exhibited excellent optical limiting properties.