Time-resolved picosecond photocurrents in contacted carbon nanotubes

Nano Lett. 2011 Jan 12;11(1):269-72. doi: 10.1021/nl1036897. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

Abstract

We introduce coplanar stripline circuits to resolve the ultrafast photocurrent dynamics of freely suspended carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the time domain. By applying an on-chip pump-probe laser spectroscopy, we demonstrate that CNTs, contacted by metal electrodes, exhibit a picosecond photocurrent response. We find a combination of an optically induced ultrafast displacement current, transport of photogenerated charge carriers at the Fermi velocity to the electrodes, and interband charge-carrier recombination processes to dominate the ultrafast photocurrent of the CNTs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't