Polarization-selective alignment of a carbon nanotube film by using femtosecond laser ablation

Abstract

We report on a considerable alignment of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in randomly oriented bundles, by using a simple drop-and-dry method and irradiation with high-intensity femtosecond laser pulses. A remarkable third-harmonic generation was observed after irradiation with the laser pulses, whereas a narrow-band white-light continuum was generated in the as-prepared films. This observation, combined with scanning electron microscopy images, confirmed the high degree of alignment of the SWCNTs. In contrast to the pulsed irradiation of carbon soot, the power-dependent laser irradiation of a highly-purified SWCNT film show polarization-dependent ablation of individual nanotubes caused by polarization-dependent absorption. Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of fractured nanotubes caused by the ablation processes. Polarization-resolved absorption spectroscopy results revealed that the aligned SWCNT film had potential usage in optical polarizers.