Photothermoelectric p–n Junction Photodetector with Intrinsic Broadband Polarimetry Based on Macroscopic Carbon Nanotube Films

Abstract

Light polarization is used in the animal kingdom for communication, navigation, and enhanced scene interpretation and also plays an important role in astronomy, remote sensing, and military applications. To date, there have been few photodetector materials demonstrated to have direct polarization sensitivity, as is usually the case in nature. Here, we report the realization of a carbon-based broadband photodetector, where the polarimetry is intrinsic to the active photodetector material. The detector is based on p-n junctions formed between two macroscopic films of single-wall carbon nanotubes. A responsivity up to ~1 V/W was observed in these devices, with a broadband spectral response spanning the visible to the mid-infrared. This responsivity is about 35 times larger than previous devices without p-n junctions. A combination of experiment and theory is used to demonstrate the photothermoelectric origin of the responsivity and to discuss the performance attributes of such devices.

Uncooled Carbon Nanotube Photodetectors

“…plasmonic resonances which can lead to large temperature increases, [27] ii) relatively large Seebeck coefficient, with values of ~ 80 µV/K to ~160 µV/K due to enhancement through the incorporation of polymers [106] or electronic type separation [107] , iii) conversion from p-type to n-type by diverse doping methods, [108] allowing for the fabrication of CNT-PTE detector based on p-n junctions, [109,110] and iv) the flexibility and strong mechanic properties, [111] allowing CNT films to be suspended or deposited on many types of substrates.…”

“…[112] CNT-PTE detectors have been made using large-size CNT films, including CNT networks, [106,110,116] aligned CNT films [109,112,113] and CNT-polymer composites. [117] The device structures are diverse, including p-n junctions, [106,109,110,112] asymmetric metal electrodes [113] and asymmetric thermal contacts.…”

“…[117] The device structures are diverse, including p-n junctions, [106,109,110,112] asymmetric metal electrodes [113] and asymmetric thermal contacts. [114,115] Table 5 lists the characteristics of some recent reports of CNT-PTE detectors.…”

“…Most CNT-PTE detectors are based on large size CNT films, including CNT networks, [106,110,116] aligned CNT films [109,112,113] and CNT-polymer composites. [117] These devices show braodband photoresponse spanning from the IR to the THz with different device structures such as p-n thermal junctions, metal-CNT junctions, and asymmetric thermal contacts.…”

NanoJapan: international research experience for undergraduates program: fostering U.S.-Japan research collaborations in terahertz science and technology of nanostructures

“…Some of the ongoing research projects include active and/or plasmonic THz sources and detectors based on graphene, [8][9][10] development of THz polarizers 11,12 and detectors [13][14][15] based on aligned single-wall carbon nanotubes, ultrafast optical spectroscopy of coherent THz phonons in carbon nanomaterials, [16][17][18] and 3D micro-fabrication of single-wall carbon nanotube/polymer composites by two-photon polymerization lithography. 19 The electromagnetic spectrum from 0.1 to 10 THz offers many opportunities to study physical phenomena, with potential payoff in numerous technologies.…”