Carbon Nanotube-Based Uncooled Bolometers: Advances and Progress

Abstract

Discovery of infrared radiation (IR) was an important step in understanding the hidden secrets of nature, which could be unraveled only after "seeing" this invisible spectrum. This curiosity led to the development of "artif icial eyes", the so-called optoelectronic devices (OEDs). Among them, bolometers (BMs) were a special class of OEDs used to detect IR and, thus, collect the hidden information. The gradual progress of human civilization and scientific curiosity led to the discovery of various materials which were looked upon as the ultimate IR bolometric material. Carbon nanotube (CNT) was one of them, which, soon after its discovery, hinted toward its potential application toward IR BM. Its blackbody characteristics, high thermal conductivity, low thermal capacity, and high mechanical and chemical stability turned out to be the ideal characteristics for the BM. This Review aims to discuss the different class of bolometric materials and then elaborating CNT-based BMs exclusively. Various adopted methodologies, both from material as well as design perspectives are discussed intensively, and the technological progress is presented over the years.

Ultraflexible Wireless Imager Integrated with Organic Circuits for Broadband Infrared Thermal Analysis

“…[19][20][21][22][23] Nanocarbon materials, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have shown promise for long-wave infrared and THz sensing. [24][25][26] CNTs exhibit a broad absorption spectrum and flexibility, making them suitable for applications in infrared imaging, nondestructive evaluation, and chemical analysis under varying mechanical conditions. [25][26][27][28][29] However, earlier generations of CNT sensors relied on external equipment, limiting their efficiency, portability, and scanning speed.…”

Multiple graphdiyne‐like chains self‐assemble into carbon nanotubes

“…As one‐dimensional nanomaterials, CNT 30 have many unusual mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties due to their lightweight and perfect hexagonal structural joint 31 . In recent years, with the deepening of research on CNT and nanomaterials, their broad application prospects have also been continuously demonstrated 32,33 . However, as two new types of carbon materials, graphdiyne and CNT have not yet been reported in literature for their advantages when combined.…”

“…31 In recent years, with the deepening of research on CNT and nanomaterials, their broad application prospects have also been continuously demonstrated. 32,33 However, as two new types of carbon materials, graphdiyne and CNT have not yet been reported in literature for their advantages when combined. In this manuscript, we use a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate the formation process of core-shell structure from multiple graphdiyne-like chains and CNT.…”

Metal-carbon nanotube composite for wavelength-selective bolometer with improved characteristics

“…The multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT) is one of the promising bolometric materials due to its broadband optical absorption, high infrared (IR) absorption, naturally suspended concentric tubes, and electrically conductive and intrinsic one-dimensional nature. [1][2][3][4][5] Apart from being a good bolometric material, these multiwalled nanotubes possess high surface-to-volume ratio, altogether with a strong resilience toward thermal/mechanical stresses and chemical treatments. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Additionally, their large strength-to-weight ratio is an added value for the formation of freestanding films, an extremely important parameter in bolometer (BM) technology.…”