Origami Terahertz Detectors Realized by Inkjet Printing of Carbon Nanotube Inks

• Published in: ACS applied nano materials Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 2920 - 2927
• Main Authors: Llinas, Juan Pablo, Hekmaty, Michelle A, Talin, A. Alec, Léonard, François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 27.03.2020; American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Subjects: carbon nanotube; detector; flexible; inkjet printing; MATERIALS SCIENCE; origami; terahertz; thermoelectric; carbon nanotube; thermoelectric; terahertz; flexible; origami; inkjet printing; detector
• ISSN: 2574-0970; 2574-0970
• DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.0c00182

Terahertz (THz) technology has shown promise for several applications, but limitations in sources and detectors have prevented broader adoption. Existing THz detectors are rigid, planar, and fabricated using complex technology, making it difficult to integrate into systems. Here we demonstrate THz detectors fabricated by inkjet printing on submicrometer thick, ultraflexible substrates. By developing p- and n-type carbon nanotube inks, we achieve optically thick p–n junction and p-type devices, enabling antenna-free pixels for THz imaging. By further designing and folding the printed devices, we realize origami-inspired architectures with improved performance over single devices, achieving a noise-equivalent power of 12 nW/Hz1/2 at room temperature with no voltage bias. Our approach opens avenues for nonplanar, foldable, deployable, insertable, and retractable THz detectors for applications in nondestructive inspection.