Carbon nanotube based spectrum infrared detectors

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have a potential to be efficient infrared (IR) detection materials due to their unique electronic properties. The ballistic electronic transport property makes the noise equivalent temperature difference smaller compared to other semi-conducting materials. By overlaying CNT-based mid-IR (3-5μm) detectors on a long-wave IR (8-15 μm) focal plane array, the mid-IR detector causes no filters loss. In order to verify this approach, a single pixel CNT-based infrared photodetector is fabricated by depositing the CNTs on the substrate surface and then aligning them using the atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanomanipulation system. Functionality of the single pixel CNT infrared detector is then verified and dark current is analyzed experimentally.