Progress Towards Applications of Carbon Nanotube Photoluminescence

In the fifteen years following the discovery of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) photoluminescence, investigators have made significant progress in their understanding of the phenomenon and towards the development of applications. The intrinsic potential of semiconducting carbon nanotubes - a family of bright, photostable near infrared (NIR) fluorophores (900-2100 nm) with tunable properties, has motivated their use as optical probes and sensors. In this perspective, we highlight the advances made in the synthesis, processing, modification, separation, and metrology of carbon nanotubes in the context of applications of their photoluminescence.