A new radiation detector made of multi-walled carbon

We report first results on a microstrip radiation detector made of multi-walled carbon nanotubes directly grown on a sapphire substrate between platinum electrodes. Signals induced in nanotubes by pulsed laser beams have been collected and analysed at three different wavelengths, 355, 532 and 1064 nm. Improvement of sensitivity towards UV wavelengths has been observed reflecting the shape of the absorbance spectrum of material. Signals clearly indicate the production of charges and the subsequent transport in the direction of the applied electric field. Measurement of the charge amount collected at different drain voltages as well as the detection efficiency are reported for each of the three wavelengths exploited. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.