Optoelectronic Sensitization of Carbon Nanotubes by CdTe Nanocrystals

TL;DR

This study explores how CdTe nanocrystals attached to carbon nanotubes can modulate their photoconductance, revealing a slow response likely due to bolometric effects, advancing understanding of optoelectronic hybrid materials.

Contribution

It demonstrates optoelectronic sensitization of carbon nanotubes using CdTe nanocrystals and uncovers the slow photoconductance response mechanism.

Findings

Photoconductance can be tuned by nanocrystal absorption properties

A slow 1 ms time constant in photoconductance response is observed

Photoconductance increase is consistent with bolometric effects

Abstract

We investigate the photoconductance of single-walled carbon nanotube-nanocrystalhybrids. The nanocrystals are bound to the nanotubes via molecular recognition. We find that the photoconductance of the hybrids can be adjusted by the absorption characteristics of the nanocrystals. In addition, the photoconductance of the hybrids surprisingly exhibits a slow time constant of about 1 ms after excitation of the nanocrystals. The data are consistent with a bolometrically induced current increase in the nanotubes caused by photon absorption in the nanocrystals.