Single walled nanotubes/amylose/SDBS complex

In this study, we prepare and characterize single walled carbon/amylose complexes formed in aqueous medium in presence of a surfactant, where amylose is an helical polysaccharide. We show that at low amylose content, nanotubes based complexes are formed which show a strong infra-red fluorescence. Electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy suggest that the complex morphology implies also the surfactant. We propose a supramolecular architecture of the complex where the nanotubes are protected from the aqueous environment by the surfactant/amylose molecules. These complexes may be of interest for biosensing applications. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.