Semiempirical study on the absorption spectra of the coronene-like molecular models of graphene quantum dots

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of the general formula C_6n²H_6n (coronene family) were used as molecular models of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Absorption spectra of the model compounds were calculated by ZINDO/S method. The S₀ → S₁ transition energy (E₁) was found to decrease with n as E₁ = 4.75 × n^-0.633 eV. This transition is forbidden in symmetric compounds but 'switches on' upon symmetry breaking. The energy of the first bright optical peak (E_br) was found to decrease with n as E_br = 6.31 × n^-0.6 eV. The data obtained corroborate the earlier finding that the size-independent optical properties of GQDs are determined by relatively small isolated sp² clusters separated by sp³ (oxygen-contained) 'defects' rather than the whole (corrupted) graphene sheets; such nanoparticles actually are not quantum dots. GQDs of pure (without defects) graphene sheets with fully π-conjugated sp² systems should exhibit size-dependent optical properties due to the quantum confinement effect.

Local Plasmon Engineering in Doped Graphene

Single-atom B or N substitutional doping in single-layer suspended graphene, realized by low-energy ion implantation, is shown to induce a dampening or enhancement of the characteristic interband π plasmon of graphene through a high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy study using scanning transmission electron microscopy. A relative 16% decrease or 20% increase in the π plasmon quality factor is attributed to the presence of a single substitutional B or N atom dopant, respectively. This modification is in both cases shown to be relatively localized, with data suggesting the plasmonic response tailoring can no longer be detected within experimental uncertainties beyond a distance of approximately 1 nm from the dopant. Ab initio calculations confirm the trends observed experimentally. Our results directly confirm the possibility of tailoring the plasmonic properties of graphene in the ultraviolet waveband at the atomic scale, a crucial step in the quest for utilizing graphene's properties toward the development of plasmonic and optoelectronic devices operating at ultraviolet frequencies.

Surface oxidation of single wall carbon nanohorns for the production of surfactant free water-based colloids

In this work, powders of Single Wall Carbon Nanohorns (SWCNHs), a typical hydrophobic material, were oxidized with concentrated HNO₃ with the aim of surface carboxylation and consequent improved hydrophilicity and dispersibility in polar solvents. Dynamic Light Scattering and ζ-potential measurements demonstrated that very stable colloidal suspensions of SWCNH in water were obtained in total absence of stabilizers. By properly optimizing the reaction parameters, the suspensions achieved stability even higher than colloids with similar composition but prepared with the use of surfactants. Surface damage and oxidation degree of SWCNHs were evaluated by SEM microscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Residual Gas Analysis, XPS and UV-visible spectroscopy.

Dual-channel extraordinary ultraviolet transmission through an aluminum nanohole array

Ultraviolet (UV) surface plasmon (SP) has distinct applications in UV filters, high-density optical storage, spectral enhancement, optical detectors, and nanolithography, which are closely related to plasmon-induced extraordinary optical transmission (EOT). However, such EOT in the UV region has not been the subject of detailed research. We report UV transmission based on theoretical research using the finite-difference time-domain method, by modulating the Al thickness, hole size, array periodicity, and SiO₂ overlayer thickness. It is notable that we can obtain dual-channel UV transmission peaks with excellent qualities such as high transmissivity, zero cross-talk, narrow bandwidth, and perfect symmetry, by optimizing the parameters. The UV transmission peaks have been discovered to non-monotonously shift with increasing hole size. Although array periodicity has great influence on the transmission peak position, the peak energy in the UV region is much less than the value predicted by the well-known periodicity-related surface plasmon polariton (SPP) wavelength equation; the energy discrepancy in the UV region can reach above 20%, which is much larger than the value (typically 4%) in the visible-infrared region. Furthermore, the SiO₂ overlayer may significantly modify the transmission properties. The Al nanohole arrays have also been found to exhibit distinct multi-band UV electric field enhancement properties with special interface effect and size effect. Such extraordinary dual-channel UV transmission with zero cross-talk, based on a very simple Al nanohole array, has promising application in dual-channel UV filters, high-density optical storage, and plasmon-enhanced fluorescence/Raman spectroscopy, which generally involves two wavebands (writing/reading storage or exciting/emission wavelengths). This study is expected to broaden our fundamental understanding of the UV EOT phenomenon, and provide references for experimental research and application of deep-UV and near-UV-related dual-band plasmonic devices.