Fundamental Investigations into the Infrared Properties of Carbon Nanotubes.

摘要

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have outstanding photoresponse in the IR range. Their unique one-dimensional electronic configuration, special band structure and novel electron/phonon transport properties project a promisingly high detectivity D* for IR detection. Our recent work on individual multiwall CNT nanobolometers has made exciting progress towards this with high D* up to 3.2x109 cm-Hz1/2/W achieved at room temperature. In addition, the nanofabrication approach developed in our laboratory on suspended CNT thin film IR detectors allows a controllable thermal link and hence optimized detector performance in CNT thin film IR detector arrays. The proposed research intends to address several critical issues in further development of the individual and thin film CNT IR detectors. On the former, our focus will be on investigating charge/phonon transport and opto-electro properties at microscopic scales. On the latter, we intend to understand so as to engineer the inter-tube electron/phonon transport to approach or exceed the intra-tube limit. Nanofabrication schemes for scale-up the CNT IR detectors for IR imaging will also be explored. The overall goal of this project is to achieve a thorough understanding of the basic physics so as to achieve uncooled CNT IR detectors with high sensitivity, light weight, and low cost.