Sexithiophene encapsulated in a single-walled carbon nanotube: an in situ Raman spectroelectrochemical study of a peapod structure.

The interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and α-sexithiophene (6T) was studied by Raman spectroscopy and by in situ Raman spectroelectrochemistry. The encapsulation of 6T in SWCNT and its interaction causes a bleaching of its photoluminescence, and also small shifts of its Raman bands. The Raman features of the SWCNT with embedded 6T (6T-peapods) change in both intensity and frequency compared to those of pristine SWCNT, which is a consequence of a change of the resonant condition. Electrochemical doping demonstrated that the electrode potential applied to the SWCNT wall causes changes in the embedded 6T. The effects of electrochemical charging on the Raman features of pristine SWCNT and 6T@SWCNT were compared. It is shown that the interaction of SWCNT with 6T also changes the electronic structure of SWCNT in its charged state. This change of electronic structure is demonstrated both for semiconducting and metallic tubes.