Title :
Photoconductivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes under CW illumination
Author :
Levitsky, I.A. ; Kanelos, P.T. ; Euler, W.B.
Author_Institution :
Emitech Inc., Fall River, MA, USA
Abstract :
The photoconductive response of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been studied under CW illumination in the NIR (900-1800 nm) and far-IR (9-10 μm) range. SWNTs were coated onto patterned gold electrodes with spacing which was varied from 5 to 300 nm. SWNT samples exhibit absorption NIR bands that are typical for semiconducting nanotubes with a diameter distribution of 0.8-1.1 nm and band at ∼10 μm in the far-IR range. A clear correlation between current and IR exposure has been observed. The detection of photoconductivity requires instrumentation with a high dynamic range due to a significant dark current. The photocurrent exhibits a linear response with light intensity and with bias voltage. Possible mechanisms of photoconductivity in SWNT films and applications of this new photosensitive material are discussed.
Keywords :
carbon nanotubes; dark conductivity; electrochemical electrodes; gold; infrared spectra; photochemistry; photoconductivity; thin films; 0.8 to 1.1 nm; 9 to 10 micrometre; 900 to 1800 nm; Au; C; CW illumination; IR exposure; SWNT samples; absorption NIR bands; bias voltage; current exposure; dark current; far-IR range; high dynamic range due; instrumentation; light intensity; linear response; patterned gold electrodes; photoconductive response; photocurrent; photosensitive material; semiconducting nanotubes; single walled carbon nanotubes; Carbon nanotubes; Dynamic range; Electrodes; Electromagnetic wave absorption; Gold; Instruments; Lighting; Photoconductivity; Semiconductivity; Semiconductor nanotubes;
Conference_Titel :
Nanotechnology, 2003. IEEE-NANO 2003. 2003 Third IEEE Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7976-4
DOI :
10.1109/NANO.2003.1230988
