Researchers have discovered a way of making carbon nanotubes emit red light when exposed to UV.
The study was carried out at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, where researchers coated the microscopic nanotubes with chemicals that are capable of displaying the light. The lanthanide compound works with the mechanical and electrical characteristics of the carbon to emit the light, whereas the powder on its own is usually seen as an absorber of light, according to reports on the Nanowerk website.
The new light emitting nanotubes, which also retain their electrical conductivity, could be an attractive prospect for OLED applications among others.
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nanowerk report
Red light from carbon nanotubes
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