Spectroscopic observations are presented for carbon nanotubes grown on silicon and quartz substrates in a hexagonal honeycomb configuration using self-assembly nanosphere lithography and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. A white light source is used as an incident beam and light reflected from the surface of the carbon nanotubes results in a distinctive signature in the reflected spectrum. A comparison of non-periodic arrays and periodic arrays of carbon nanotubes show that the reflectance signature is only observed when the carbon nanotubes are oriented in a periodic array. Further observations regarding the light antenna effect observed in nonperiodic arrays are also reported. Theoretical curves show good agreement to experimentally observed phenomena. The unique optical properties of the arrays combined with the excellent mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes indicate that these materials may find many uses in the field of optoelectronics.

Date Published: 18 August 2005
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 5931, Nanoengineering: Fabrication, Properties, Optics, and Devices II, 59310X (18 August 2005); doi: 10.1117/12.617968

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5931:
Nanoengineering: Fabrication, Properties, Optics, and Devices II
Elizabeth A. Dobisz; Louay A. Eldada, Editor(s)