Electrically driven SWCNT for high-efficiency infrared emission based on the electron-phonon scattering effect.

High-performance infrared light sources have significantly influenced the fields of photonics and optoelectronics. However, achieving infrared light emission with low energy consumption, high brightness, and rapid response remains a huge challenge. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) could be an important candidate for infrared light emitters because of their superior electron mobility and phonon transport efficiency. Here, we constructed a freestanding SWCNT emitter integrated into the PCB (printed circuit board) panel. The distinct one-dimensional (1D) subbands of SWCNTs that intersect at the Fermi energy significantly amplify electron-phonon scattering under a bias voltage. This enhancement results in outstanding infrared emission performance even in atmospheric environments. The infrared display device utilizing SWCNTs exhibits high radiation efficiency ( / ) of 2 × 10 mW. This SWCNT achieves an infrared radiation temperature of up to 468 K at 1.5 V; the response time of the rising edge is 260 ms; and the falling edge is 360 ms, with an energy consumption of 0.45 W and an optical power of 9.02 mW. The device demonstrates stable display performance over 10 endurance cycles and can run persistently for more than 14 hours. This high thermal radiation, high-speed response efficiency, and low power consumption infrared emission from SWCNTs highlight their potential for future applications in infrared light sources.