Significantly enhanced photoresponse of carbon nanotube films modified with cesium tungsten bronze nanoclusters in the visible to short-wave infrared range.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) films are promising materials for application in ultra-broadband photodetectors because their absorption range covers the entire spectrum from ultraviolet to the terahertz region, and their detection mechanism is the bolometric effect. Because of the different and limited photothermal conversion efficiencies of CNTs with respect to various wavelengths, the response performance of existing photodetector devices is unsatisfactory, particularly in the infrared band. In this paper, we propose for the first time the use of cesium tungsten bronze (Cs WO) nanomaterials, which have strong infrared absorption and excellent photothermal conversion properties, to decorate a CNT film for construction of a Cs WO-CNT composite film photodetector.

Local large temperature difference and ultra-wideband photothermoelectric response of the silver nanostructure film/carbon nanotube film heterostructure.

Photothermoelectric materials have important applications in many fields. Here, we joined a silver nanostructure film and a carbon nanotube film by van der Waals force to form a heterojunction, which shows excellent photothermal and photoelectric conversion properties. The local temperature difference and the output photovoltage increase rapidly when the heterojunction is irradiated by lasers with wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to terahertz.

High-Responsivity Photodetector Based on a Suspended Monolayer Graphene/RbAgI Composite Nanostructure.

Graphene has excellent electrical, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties that make it an ideal optoelectronic material. However, it still has some problems, such as a very low light absorption rate, which means it cannot meet the application requirements of high-performance optoelectronic devices. Here, we produce a high-responsivity photodetector based on a monolayer graphene/RbAgI composite nanostructure.

Growth mechanism and photoelectric properties of a silver nanowire network prepared by solid state ionics method.

A macroscopic silver nanowire (AgNW) network is grown by solid state ionics method. The ion flow during growth of the AgNW network is controlled by maintaining a current in the order of 10 A. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals that the growth direction of AgNWs in the network is irregular and spread evenly in all directions and the nanowires are 40-160 nm in diameter.

Facile fabrication of eutectic gallium-indium alloy nanostructure and application in photodetection.

Eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) alloy is a kind of liquid metal and has attracted much attention due to good properties. In order to satisfy the trend of miniaturization and realize more practical applications, the exploration for preparation method and properties of EGaIn at nanoscale are very important. Here, facile vacuum thermal evaporation method is developed to fabricate EGaIn nanostructures.

Generation of Ultrafine Droplets in Femtoliter Scale from a Large Needle with Diameter of 200 Microns.

Ultrafine droplets play important roles in many fields. Here, we prepare ultrafine droplets with volumes in femtoliter scale by applying an electrostatic field between a needle and substrate. The diameter of liquid is reduced significantly to about 1/50 that of the needle tip.