Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of detecting strain associated with an object by: (1) irradiating a composition that has been applied to the object, where the composition comprises semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes; (2) measuring an emission from the irradiated composition, where the emission comprises near infrared emission; and (3) correlating the near infrared emission to the presence or absence of strain associated with the object. In some embodiments, the aforementioned steps occur without physically contacting the object or the composition. In some embodiments, the aforementioned steps occur without utilizing Raman spectroscopy. Further embodiments of the present invention also include a step of applying the composition to the object.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of detecting strain associated with an object by: (1) irradiating a composition that has been applied to the object, where the composition comprises semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes; (2) measuring an emission from the irradiated composition, where the emission comprises near infrared emission; and (3) correlating the near infrared emission to the presence or absence of strain associated with the object. In some embodiments, the aforementioned steps occur without physically contacting the object or the composition. In some embodiments, the aforementioned steps occur without utilizing Raman spectroscopy. Further embodiments of the present invention also include a step of applying the composition to the object.

Abstract: A device comprising an acoustic detector, one or more thermal sensing elements coupled to the acoustic detector, and a light source. A method comprising directing a beam of light at a wavelength at or near one or more thermal sensing elements, wherein the thermal sensing elements are coupled to an acoustic detector, determining a resonance frequency of the acoustic detector, wherein the acoustic detector is coupled to one or more of the thermal sensing elements, and measuring the response of the acoustic detector to detect optical radiation absorption proximate to or at the surface of one or more thermal sensing elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward fluorescent inks and markers comprising carbon nanotubes. The present invention is also directed toward methods of making such inks and markers and to methods of using such inks and markers, especially for security applications (e.g., anti-counterfeiting). Such inks and markers rely on the unique fluorescent properties of semiconducting carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward fluorescent inks and markers comprising carbon nanotubes. The present invention is also directed toward methods of making such inks and markers and to methods of using such inks and markers, especially for security applications (e.g., anti-counterfeiting). Such inks and markers rely on the unique fluorescent properties of semiconducting carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A device comprising an acoustic detector, one or more thermal sensing elements coupled to the acoustic detector, and a light source. A method comprising directing a beam of light at a wavelength at or near one or more thermal sensing elements, wherein the thermal sensing elements are coupled to an acoustic detector, determining a resonance frequency of the acoustic detector, wherein the acoustic detector is coupled to one or more of the thermal sensing elements, and measuring the response of the acoustic detector to detect optical radiation absorption proximate to or at the surface of one or more thermal sensing elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for sorting and separating a mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes according to (n, m) type. A mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes is suspended such that the single-wall carbon nanotubes are individually dispersed. The nanotube suspension can be done in a surfactant-water solution and the surfactant surrounding the nanotubes keeps the nanotube isolated and from aggregating with other nanotubes. The nanotube suspension is acidified to protonate a fraction of the nanotubes. An electric field is applied and the protonated nanotubes migrate in the electric fields at different rates dependent on their (n, m) type. Fractions of nanotubes are collected at different fractionation times. The process of protonation, applying an electric field, and fractionation is repeated at increasingly higher pH to separated the (n, m) nanotube mixture into individual (n, m) nanotube fractions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for sorting and separating a mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes according to (n, m) type. A mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes is suspended such that the single-wall carbon nanotubes are individually dispersed. The nanotube suspension can be done in a surfactant-water solution and the surfactant surrounding the nanotubes keeps the nanotube isolated and from aggregating with other nanotubes. The nanotube suspension is acidified to protonate a fraction of the nanotubes. An electric field is applied and the protonated nanotubes migrate in the electric fields at different rates dependent on their (n, m) type. Fractions of nanotubes are collected at different fractionation times. The process of protonation, applying an electric field, and fractionation is repeated at increasingly higher pH to separated the (n, m) nanotube mixture into individual (n, m) nanotube fractions.

Abstract: The invention relates to macroscopic amounts of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes and sensing and monitoring devices comprising specific nanotube types. Selected (n, m)-type fractions of single-wall carbon nanotubes are separated from a suspension of mixed single-wall carbon nanotubes are individually dispersed and isolated. The nanotubes are isolated and precluded from reassociating with other nanotubes by encasing the nanotube with a non-perturbing molecular species, such as surfactant molecules or polymers that can wrap around the nanotube. In contrast to metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes, semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes have been found to fluoresce in the near-IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The nanotubes are very sensitive to environmental perturbations and the nanotube's fluorescence profile will be affected by these perturbations.