CNT-Based Infrared Optical Sensors and Sources

This chapter discusses the properties, fabrication, and development of infrared thermal sensors/sources that embed micro-printed carbon nanotubes as the active absorbing/radiating material. It studies different printed carbon nanotube structures including single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)- and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-based thin films aiming to achieve high emissivity and absorptivity for the source and detector, respectively, in selected wavelength ranges in near- and mid-infrared ranges. The study includes multi-scale modeling approach and experimental characterization.