Diameter-dependent relaxation dynamics of 1D excitons in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have studied 1D exciton relaxation dynamics in semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by femtosecond pump–probe experiments. The time evolution of change in transmittance ΔT/T induced by photo-excitation varies depending on the tube diameter. The decay time decreases with a decrease in the tube diameter. Pressure measurements have been conducted to explore the relaxation mechanism. The deformation potential estimated from the pressure dependence of photoluminescence spectra increases with decreasing tube diameter. This means that the exciton–phonon interaction becomes stronger in the smaller diameter tubes. The diameter dependences of decay time and deformation potential suggest that the exciton–phonon interaction plays an important role in exciton nonradiative relaxation process in semiconducting SWNTs.