US Patent 7754107 - Visualizing CNTs with Qdots

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7754107.html

A few methods exist to attach carbon nanotubes to quantum dots in order to label and track the nanotubes. However, the attachment of the quantum dot can either damage the nanotube structure or be too weak in which case the quantum dot is easily detached. This patent from National Tsing Hua University teaches a technique intended to resolve these problems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of visualizing a carbon nanotube, comprising:

bonding a plurality of linking molecules to surfaces of a plurality of quantum dots;

attaching the quantum dots to the carbon nanotube through non-covalent bonding via the linking molecules,

wherein the linking molecule is (1-pyrenyl)methyl 6,8-dimercaptooctanoate; and

making the quantum dots emit light.