Single-color pyrometry of individual incandescent multiwalled carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This study uses single-color pyrometry to measure the temperature and optical properties of individual incandescent multiwalled carbon nanotubes, revealing detailed thermal and emissivity characteristics in the 1600-2400 K range.

Contribution

It introduces a method for accurate temperature measurement of small objects violating classical assumptions, providing insights into their emissivity and conductivity.

Findings

Temperature range 1600-2400 K determined

Emissivity and conductivity characterized

Supports a comprehensive understanding of nanotube thermal emission

Abstract

Objects that are small compared to their thermal photon wavelengths violate the assumptions underlying optical pyrometry and can show unusual coherence effects. To investigate this regime we measure the absolute light intensity from individual, incandescent multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The nanotube filaments' physical dimensions and composition are determined using transmission electron microscopy and their emissivities are calculated in terms of bulk conductivities. A single-color pyrometric analysis then returns a temperature value for each wavelength, polarization, and applied bias measured. Compared to the more common multiwavelength analysis, single-color pyrometry supports a more consistent and complete picture of the carbon nanotube lamps, one that describes their emissivity, optical conductivity, and thermal conductivity in the range 1600-2400 K.