Photoconductive logic gate based on platinum decorated carbon nanotubes

Appl Opt. 2013 Aug 1;52(22):E22-7. doi: 10.1364/AO.52.000E22.

Abstract

Electrical and nonlinear optical experiments were performed on multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared by a chemical vapor deposition method. We report that the incorporation of platinum particles on the CNTs surface originates an enhancement in the photoconductive properties with noticeable capabilities to modulate optical and electrical signals. The photoconductive logic gate function OR was experimentally demonstrated using a simple photoconductive platform based on our samples. A two-photon absorption effect was identified as the main mechanism of third-order optical nonlinearity under a nonresonant nanosecond excitation. Multiphotonic interactions were described in order to explain the observed behavior.