Near-infrared photoconductive and photovoltaic devices using single-wall carbon nanotubes in conductive polymer films

Abstract

We have fabricated prototypical Al/single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT)-polymer/indium tin oxide thin-film devices that exhibit promising photoconductive and photovoltaic responses in a broad spectral range, typically from 300to1600nm. This achievement was made possible by finely dispersed SWNT powders in polymer matrices such as poly-phenylene-vinylene and poly-thiophene. These devices utilize (i) the intrinsic near-infrared light harvesting properties of semiconducting SWNTs, (ii) the electronic transport properties of both semiconducting and metallic SWNTs in combination with those of the polymer matrices, and (iii) probably charge/energy transfer processes between SWNTs and the polymers. By selecting different sources of SWNTs and polymers, we have shown that the optoelectronic properties of these devices are potentially tunable. To support our investigation, several techniques including spectrally resolved photoconductivity, optical absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were utilized.