Well dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes with strong visible fluorescence in water for metal ions sensing

A novel and simple method to prepare well dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes with strong visible fluorescence in water is reported. The visible fluorescence was found to be responsive to pH value and metal ions, and tunable emission ability of oxidized SWCNTs depending on the excitation wavelength and a novel self-excitation and emission process were found.