We investigate in this paper the potential of carbon nanotubes for infrared bolometers. A method to obtain CNT film layer and technological processes to obtain matrix of devices are presented. The electrical characterization of samples establishes the quality of our technology i.e. low contact resistance, and weak dispersion between devices. The potential of carbon nanotubes films as bolometric material is investigated by measuring the thermal dependence of their resistance and by comparison with amorphous silicon (one of the leading material for bolometric applications). Optical measurements of CNT films in the infrared and THz ranges show a relatively high absorption for a few hundreds nanometers thick material. Eventually the infrared (8-12 μm) photo-response of a first demonstrator is presented and discussed.

Date Published: 24 January 2011
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 7945, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices VIII, 794521 (24 January 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.870810

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7945:
Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices VIII
Manijeh Razeghi; Rengarajan Sudharsanan; Gail J. Brown, Editor(s)