Optical trapping of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Optical trapping and manipulation of individually dissolved single-walled carbon nanotubes in an aqueous solution was demonstrated using an infrared laser trapping system. The trapping effect was attributed to the interaction between the electric field of the laser and the instantaneously induced dipole moments in individual nanotube molecules. Fluorescence microscopy and intensity measurements demonstrated that the amount of trapped nanotubes is dependent on the initial nanotube concentration, laser power, and irradiated volume of the laser beam. It was also demonstrated that an optical trap combined with a microfluidic device trapped and moved nanotubes in the fluid channel.