Dye encapsulation into host single-walled carbon nanotubes is an easy way to create hybrid nano-systems with tunable opto-electronic properties. In this work, we will discuss the supramolecular organization inside the nanotube, the optical properties and the charge transfer as the function of the type of molecules, diameter and metallic or semiconducting character of the host nanotube. A significant electron transfer from encapsulated dyes to the carbon material is reported, whose magnitude strongly depends on the nanotube diameter, in good agreement with DFT calculations, and on the metallic or semiconducting character. Experiments also suggest a photo-activated electron transfer for small diameter (~9 Å) semiconducting and metallic tubes. Dye encapsulation is shown to significantly alter electron-phonon coupling into metallic nanotubes as revealed by the value of the coupling factor extracted from the Fano equation. The charge transfer is consistent with an important enhancement of the photoluminescence intensity up to a factor of nearly six for optimal confinement configuration. This charge transfer shifts the Fermi level, acting on the photoluminescence efficiency and the electron-phonon-coupling.

The aim of the present work is to study by means of thermodynamic measurements, i.e. isotherms of adsorption and desorption of water and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, the effect of the interlayer cations on the mechanism of adsorption-desorption of water in the case of a montmorillonite exchanged with alkaline-earth metals. For the first time, the net isosteric heat of water adsorption and desorption is determined from isotherms recorded at three temperatures. The net isosteric heat is a very useful parameter for getting more insights into the sorption mechanism since it provides information about the sorption energy evolution which can be complementary to that obtained from structural or gravimetric measurements. The homoionic montmorillonite samples are prepared from purification and cationic exchanged in aqueous solution of the raw material, i.e the reference SWy-2 Wyoming material. XRD at the dry state and elemental chemical analysis confirm that the treatment does not deteriorate the clay structure and yield the expected homoionic composition. The adsorption and desorption isotherms measured at various temperatures show that the nature of the interlayer, i.e. exchangeable, cation changes the adsorbed/desorbed amount of water molecules for a given water relative pressure. The total amount of water adsorbed at = 0.5 follows the cation sequence Ca>Mg>Ba. Although the adsorption isosteric heat also follows the cation sequence Ca>Mg>Ba, that of desorption obeys a slightly different sequence Ca~Mg>Ba. This discrepancy between the adsorption and desorption heat is due to the higher irreversibility of water sorption process in the Ca exchanged montmorillonite. Finally, analysis of the IR spectra recorded at room temperature and under a primary vacuum reveals that the amount of adsorbed water follows the same sequence as that of the isosteric heat of adsorption and shows the coexistence of liquid-like and solid-like water confined in the interlayer space.

The main hurdle preventing the widespread useof single-walled carbon nanotubes remains the lack ofmethods with which to produce formulations of pristine,unshortened, unfunctionalized, individualized single-walledcarbon nanotubes, thus preserving their extraordinary properties.In particular, sonication leads to shortening, which isdetrimental to percolation properties (electrical, thermal,mechanical, etc.). Using reductive dissolution and transfer intodegassed water, open-ended, water-filled nanotubes can bedispersed as individualized nanotubes in water−dimethylsulfoxide mixtures, avoiding the use of sonication andsurfactant. Closed nanotubes, however, aggregate immediately upon contact with water. Photoluminescence andabsorption spectroscopy both point out a very high degree of individualization while retaining lengths of several microns.The resulting transparent conducting films are 1 order of magnitude more conductive than surfactant-based blanks atequal transmittance.

Helium-4 atoms are bosons, with the capability to turn superfluid at very low temperature. Remarkably, this property is conserved even when the thickness of the Helium film is reduced down to few atoms thick only. The study of 2D helium films has led to several breakthrough in condensed matter physics including the study of third sound and topological phase transitions, the latter being rewarded by the 2016 Nobel Prize.In most experimental studies helium was adsorbed on large scale substrates, such as mm2 scale grafoil plates or Mylar. Recent advances in the field of optomechanics and nanomechanics now opens up the possibility to study fluids and superfluids of smaller dimensions.In this talk, we present our recent experiments on helium films probed through the mechanical vibrations of a carbon nanotube. We observed a strong discontinuity in the adsorption of He on the nanotube surface, that we attributed to a layering transition. In addition, the low-temperature dependence of the mechanical mode of the nanotube exhibit a mode softening. Thanks to the tunability of the nanotube resonator, we confirmed the spring nature of this effect and drawn a link with the propagation of third sound in He 2D films.

When cooling Helium-4 atoms at very low temperature the system becomes superfluid, a quantum state of matter. Remarkably, this property is conserved even when the thickness of the Helium film is reduced down to few atoms thick only. The study of 2D helium films has led to several breakthrough in condensed matter physics including the study of third sound and topological phase transitions, the latter being rewarded by the 2016 Nobel Prize.Up to now, most experimental studies focused on large scale substrates, such as mm2 scale grafoil plates or Mylar. Recent advances in the field of optomechanics and nanomechanics now opens up the possibility to study fluids and superfluids of smaller dimensions.I will present our recent experiments on helium films growed on individual carbon nanotube, and probed through the mechanical vibrations of the nanotube. We observed a strong discontinuity in the adsorption of He on the nanotube surface, that we attributed to a layering transition. In addition, the low-temperature dependence of the mechanical mode of the nanotube exhibit a mode softening. Thanks to the tunability of the nanotube resonator, we confirmed the spring nature of this effect and drawn a link with the propagation of third sound in He 2D films.