Structural ( n, m) determination of isolated single-wall carbon nanotubes by resonant Raman scattering

• Published in: Physical review letters Vol. 86; no. 6; p. 1118
• Main Authors: Jorio, A, Saito, R, Hafner, J H, Lieber, C M, Hunter, M, McClure, T, Dresselhaus, G, Dresselhaus, M S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 05.02.2001
• ISSN: 0031-9007; 1079-7114
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.86.1118

We show that the Raman scattering technique can give complete structural information for one-dimensional systems, such as carbon nanotubes. Resonant confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy of an (n,m) individual single-wall nanotube makes it possible to assign its chirality uniquely by measuring one radial breathing mode frequency omega(RBM) and using the theory of resonant transitions. A unique chirality assignment can be made for both metallic and semiconducting nanotubes of diameter d(t), using the parameters gamma(0) = 2.9 eV and omega(RBM) = 248/d(t). For example, the strong RBM intensity observed at 156 cm(-1) for 785 nm laser excitation is assigned to the (13,10) metallic chiral nanotube on a Si/SiO2 surface.