Synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of a carbon nanohorn–coumarin hybrid material

The covalent attachment of a custom functionalized coumarin derivative onto the sidewalls of carbon nanohorns (CNHs) is reported. The new CNH–coumarin hybrid material was fully characterized with complementary spectroscopic, thermal, and microscopy techniques. The photophysical properties of the CNH–coumarin hybrid were explored with the aid of steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements, in both polar and non polar solvents. Finally, the redox potentials of the hybrid material were evaluated by electrochemistry.