Enhanced photoluminescence from very thin double-wall carbon nanotubes synthesized by the zeolite-CCVD method.

Photoluminescence (PL) from purified (>90%) double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs), which have been synthesized by zeolite catalyst-supported chemical vapor deposition (zeolite-CCVD), of very small diameters (0.8-nm average inner tube) is reported. The PL contour mappings for various ratios (1-90%) of double- versus single-wall carbon nanotubes by thermal oxidation have enabled us to unambiguously identify the chirality of inner tubes for the DWNTs synthesized. After the extensive high-temperature oxidation at 700 degrees C, high-purity (>90%) DWNTs of approximately 0.8 nm inner diameter are obtained, and most of these correspond to the DWNTs having inner tubes with chiralities of (7,5), (7,6), and (9,4).