Evaluation and modeling of electrical conductivity of semi-conducting carbon nanotube networks for bolometric infrared detectors

Abstract

Uncooled bolometer-type infrared detector's performance is strongly limited by temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the resistor. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are expected as promising materials with high TCR, and high chemical stability. In a preliminary experiment TCR of semiconducting CNT networks extracted by using non-ionic surfactants was confirmed to be -6%/K. Electric properties of SWCNT networks were strongly affected by its morphology. Optimization of SWCNT network morphology is important to maximize the detectability of SWCNT bolometers.