Colors of Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes. Issue 8 (14th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wei, Nan; Tian, Ying; Liao, Yongping; Komatsu, Natsumi; Gao, Weilu; Lyuleeva‐Husemann, Alina; Zhang, Qiang; Hussain, Aqeel; Ding, Er‐Xiong; Yao, Fengrui; Halme, Janne; Liu, Kaihui; Kono, Junichiro; Jiang, Hua; Kauppinen, Esko I.
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 33:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-12-14
• Subjects: carbon nanotube thin films -- color range -- nanomaterials -- pigments -- quantitative coloration model; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202006395
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: Although single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibit various colors in suspension, directly synthesized SWCNT films usually appear black. Recently, a unique one‐step method for directly fabricating green and brown films has been developed. Such remarkable progress, however, has brought up several new questions. The coloration mechanism, potentially achievable colors, and color controllability of SWCNTs are unknown. Here, a quantitative model is reported that can predict the specific colors of SWCNT films and unambiguously identify the coloration mechanism. Using this model, colors of 466 different SWCNT species are calculated, which reveals a broad spectrum of potentially achievable colors of SWCNTs. The calculated colors are in excellent agreement with existing experimental data. Furthermore, the theory predicts the existence of many brilliantly colored SWCNT films, which are experimentally expected. This study shows that SWCNTs as a form of pure carbon, can display a full spectrum of vivid colors, which is expected to complement the general understanding of carbon materials. Abstract : The colors of 466 species of single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are revealed by experiments on clean dry thin films and modeling of the carbon nanotube absorbance spectra. A quantitative coloration model of SWCNTs is proposed and is verified by existing experimental data. This model predicts the existence of brilliantly colored carbon nanotube films that can display the full rainbow.