Bolometric detector on the basis of single-wall carbon nanotube/polymer composite

Infrared imaging sensors that operate without cryogenic cooling have the potential to provide the military or civilian users with infrared vision capabilities packaged in a camera of extremely small size, weight and power consumption. We present here the uncooled bolometric sensor on the basis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) polymer composite with enhanced sensitivity. The voltage responsivity of device working at room temperatures exceeds 150 V/W. The absorption coefficient of single-wall carbon nanotubes was increased by involving Forster type energy transfer from polymer film to dispersed SWNT. The temperature gradient of resistivity was substantially improved by chemical functionalization of SWNT.