Plants and photosynthetic bacteria contain protein−molecular complexes that harvest photons with nearly optimum quantum yield and an expected power conversion efficiency exceeding 20%. In this work, we demonstrate the integration of electrically active photosynthetic protein− molecular complexes in solid-state devices, realizing photodetectors and photovoltaic cells with internal quantum efficiencies of approximately 12%. Electronic integration of devices is achieved by self-assembling an oriented monolayer of photosynthetic complexes, stabilizing them with surfactant peptides, and then coating them with a protective organic semiconductor.

Thermal transport in carbon nanotubes is explored using different laser powers to heat suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes ∼5μm in length. The temperature change along the length of a nanotube is determined from the temperature-induced shifts in the G band Raman frequency. The spatial temperature profile reveals the ratio of the contact thermal resistance to the intrinsic thermal resistance of the nanotube. Moreover, the obtained temperature profiles allow differentiation between diffusive and ballistic phonon transport. Diffusive transport is observed in all nanotubes measured and the ratio of thermal contact resistance to intrinsic nanotube thermal resistance is found to range from 0.02 to 17.

Raman spectra of individual carbon nanotubes are measured by scanning a focused laser spot ͑0.5 m diameter͒ over a large area ͑100 m 2 ͒ before and after depositing silver nanoparticles. Local regions exhibiting surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy ͑SERS͒ were located with respect to a lithographically patterned grid, allowing subsequent scanning electron microscopy to be performed. The uniquely large aspect ratio of carbon nanotubes enables imaging of the nanoparticle geometry together with the SERS active molecule. By measuring the same individual carbon nanotube before and after metal nanoparticle deposition, the SERS enhancement factor is determined unambiguously. The data reveals SERS enhancement factors up to 134 000, a consistent upshift in the G band Raman frequency and nanoparticle heating in excess of 600°C.

We measure resonant Raman scattering of individual carbon nanotube bundles under axial strains of up to 17%. The main effect of this strain is to cause debundling of the nanotubes. The G band Raman spectra of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes respond differently to strain and debundling, giving insight into the nature of the broad metallic G − band line shape. For metallic nanotubes, the G − band upshifts and becomes narrower with strain, making it appear more semiconductor-like. Surprisingly, this metal to semiconductor transition is not reversible with strain, indicating that nanotube-nanotube coupling plays a significant role in the observed G − band of unperturbed metallic nanotubes.