Environment effects on the Raman spectra of individual single-wall carbon nanotubes: Suspended and grown on polycrystalline silicon

An enhanced Raman signal is observed from individual suspended single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and from isolated SWNTs grown on an n -doped polycrystalline silicon film used in standard silicon processing. The radial breathing modes of the Raman spectra taken from suspended SWNTs exhibit narrow linewidths, which indicate a relatively unperturbed environment for suspended SWNTs. Clear Raman signals from intermediate frequency modes in the frequency range from 520 to 1200 cm − 1 are presented, which might allow a detailed study of the phonon band structure of individual SWNTs.