Carbon nanotube terahertz polarizer

Nano Lett. 2009 Jul;9(7):2610-3. doi: 10.1021/nl900815s.

Abstract

We describe a film of highly aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes that acts as an excellent terahertz linear polarizer. There is virtually no attenuation (strong absorption) when the terahertz polarization is perpendicular (parallel) to the nanotube axis. From the data, the reduced linear dichrosim was calculated to be 3, corresponding to a nematic order parameter of 1, which demonstrates nearly perfect alignment as well as intrinsically anisotropic terahertz response of single-walled carbon nanotubes in the film.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Polarization
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon