Article Title

Photothermoelectric effects in single-walled carbon nanotube films: Reinterpreting scanning photocurrent experiments

Authors

Benoit C. St-Antoine, Regroupement Quebecois sur les Materiaux de Pointe (RQMP) and Department of Engineering Physics, cole Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal QC H3C 3A7, Canada
David Ménard, Regroupement Quebecois sur les Materiaux de Pointe (RQMP) and Department of Engineering Physics, cole Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal QC H3C 3A7, Canada
Richard Martel, Regroupement Quebecois sur les Materiaux de Pointe (RQMP) and Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal QC H3T 1J4, Canada

Keywords

Carbon nanotubes, photothermoelectric, photoconductivity, Seebeck coefficient, doping

Abstract

We revisit the mechanism leading to the photoresponse of locally illuminated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films deposited on substrates. Our study examines the impact of multiple device parameters and provides many evidences that the position-dependent photocurrent is dominated by photothermoelectric effects. The photoresponse arises from the temperature variations at the metal–nanotube film interfaces, where mismatches of the Seebeck coefficients are measured. Our work also stresses the impact of the substrates, electrode materials and post-thermal treatments on the amplitude and dynamics of the photoresponse. The knowledge gained should guide the future development of photothermoelectric devices and detectors based on SWNTs.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-011-0186-x

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Benoit C. St-Antoine,David Ménard,Richard Martel, Photothermoelectric effects in single-walled carbon nanotube films: Reinterpreting scanning photocurrent experiments. NanoRes.2012, 5(2): 73–81