Excited states and electroluminescence of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are quasi-1D materials with rather unique physical properties. In particular, their excellent electrical transport properties, strong bonding, chemical inertness and high thermal conductivity make them a favored candidate for future nanoelectronics applications. [1] Semiconducting CNT nanotubes, unlike silicon, are direct-gap materials and the possibility of using them in optoelectronic applications and eventually developing a combined electronic and optoelectronic technology based on CNTs is attracting significant attention recently. In this talk I will give a brief account of our work on the nature of the excited states of CNTs, their properties, electrical excitation, electroluminescence and photoconductivity.