Extrinsic and Intrinsic Photoresponse in Monodisperse Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Transistors

Spectroscopic, time-resolved scanning photocurrent microscopy is shown to distinguish the intrinsic photoresponse of monodisperse semiconducting (99%) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) from the extrinsic photoresponse of the substrate. A persistent positive photocurrent induced by near-IR excitation is attributed to the generation of free carriers by inter-band excitation in SWCNTs. For shorter excitation wavelengths, absorption by the Si substrate generates two types of photocurrent: a transient positive photoresponse, identified as a displacement current, and a persistent negative photocurrent that arises from photogating of the SWCNT thin film.