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

This work comprehensively discusses the utilization of a metal-multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposite of gold (Au)/CNT for uncooled bolometric application synthesized by a simple rapid green synthesis technique. Enhanced light-matter interaction with the visible (532 nm) and near-infrared (1064 nm) radiations in the nanocomposite is utilized for achieving improved bolometric response at room temperature (RT, ∼300 K). A comparatively higher temperature coefficient of resistance of ∼-0.11%/K (improvement of ∼57%) was achieved in the Au/CNT nanocomposite bolometer (BM). Additionally, the composite BM demonstrated a dual (532 and 1064 nm) spectral selectively and enhanced sensitivity with respective large RT voltage responsivities of ∼11.70 ± 3.45 V/W and ∼503.54 ± 12.77 mV/W, as opposed to null response from the CNT BM. The current study, thus, demonstrates an important step toward designing high-performing CNT BMs for uncooled operation, with added functionality of wavelength-selectiveness.