At the focal point of our studies are mutual interactions between an anionic heptamethine cyanine and individualized single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) / exfoliated nanographene (NG). Unprecedented is the distinct NIR absorption of the heptamethine cyanine, which assists in visualizing the electronic interactions in the ground state with ease and precision. In statistical Raman assays, we conclude from downshifted 2D- and G-modes for SWCNTs, as well as, upshifted 2D- and downshifted G-modes for NG that these electronic interactions result in stable n-doping of SWCNTs / NG . Key to this shift of charge density is the electron donating character of the heptamethine cyanine. In the excited state, a complete, but metastable transfer of charges is accompanied by a several nanoseconds lived radical ion pair state. Note such a time domain has never been realized, for example, in NGs to this date.