Abstract

We demonstrate improved manufacturability of spectrally flat detectors for visible to mid-infrared wavelengths by characterizing a carbon nanotube spray coating compatible with lithium tantalate and other thermal sensors. Compared against previous spray coatings, it demonstrated the highest responsivity yet attained due to both higher absorptivity and thermal diffusivity, while also being matured to a commercially available product. It demonstrated spectral nonuniformity from 300 nm to 12 μm less than 1% with uncertainty ($k=2$) under 0.4%. The spatial nonuniformity of the assembled sensor was less than 0.5% over the central half (4 mm) of the absorber. As with previous developments employing isotropic carbon nanotube coatings, the absorber surface was sufficiently robust to withstand cleaning by compressed air blast and survived repeated vacuum cycling without measurable impact upon responsivity.

Assembly and evaluation of a pyroelectric detector bonded to vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes over thin silicon

E. Theocharous, S. P. Theocharous, and J. H. Lehman
Appl. Opt. 52(33) 8054-8059 (2013)

Evaluation of a pyroelectric detector with a carbon multiwalled nanotube black coating in the infrared

E. Theocharous, R. Deshpande, A. C. Dillon, and J. Lehman
Appl. Opt. 45(6) 1093-1097 (2006)

Single-wall carbon nanotube coating on a pyroelectric detector

John H. Lehman, Chaiwat Engtrakul, Thomas Gennett, and Anne C. Dillon
Appl. Opt. 44(4) 483-488 (2005)

Infrared responsivity of a pyroelectric detector with a single-wall carbon nanotube coating

E. Theocharous, C. Engtrakul, A. C. Dillon, and J. Lehman
Appl. Opt. 47(22) 3999-4003 (2008)

Far infrared thermal detectors for laser radiometry using a carbon nanotube array

John H. Lehman, Bob Lee, and Erich N. Grossman
Appl. Opt. 50(21) 4099-4104 (2011)