In this work, we present a novel technique to form a nano-rectenna based on single wall CNTs using a conductive atomic force microscope. The nano-rectenna exhibits a clear rectification behavior and sensitivity to light.

To optimize the performance of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based rectennas, we have studied the effect of metal work function on the photodetection characteristics. Two materials of conducting nanoprobes, namely, gold (Au) and platinum (Pt), have been used to form a rectifying diode at the interface with the CNT. The electrical and optical characteristics of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) dispersed on top of a SiO 2 /Si substrate have been investigated using a conductive mode atomic force microscope (C-AFM). The I–V measurements performed for both diodes have exhibited an explicit rectification behavior with high sensitivity of a CNT-based rectenna to light. It has been observed that the lower work function metal (Au) leads to a higher on/off current ratio than the high work function metal (Pt). These experimental observations will be explained using the material characterization of the complete system along with representative energy-band diagrams.

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In this paper, a new type of sensor and associated system for complete online monitoring of scale deposition with great accuracy and reliability is fabricated and characterized. The system is based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which have unique sensing/electronic properties along with physical and chemical stability in corrosive and hostile environments required for the oil and gas application. CNTs inkjet printing technique is used to fabricate the CNTs sensor. The sensitivity of the films, real time monitoring of brine solution, stability of the films in various solvents and fluids and the ability of setting and resetting of the sensor are studied. The results of these studies indicate that adding of one brine solution on the surface of the CNTs inkjet printing increases the resistance from 0.50 kΩ to 1.50 kΩ. The CNTs inkjet printing sample is found to be stable even after 48 hours of soaking the whole sample in DI-water. This sensor not only shows good sensing response for detection of the deposition of brine, but can also be easily reset back many times by just wash it with DI-water. This simple sensor is ideally suited for real time monitoring and the response time of the film is found to be from 15–30 s.