Photovoltaic-Driven Flexible Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Self-Powered and Polarization-Sensitive Infrared Photodetection

Infrared detection devices with self-powered and high polarization sensitivity are motivated by not only the interest in basic science but also the practical applications. Here, we have systematically studied the photoelectronic properties of a chiral (7, 0) single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) with the bending angle θ ranging from 0° to 45° by first-principles. Our results indicate that bending stress can break the spatial inversion symmetry of the SWCNT, which will result in a photocurrent under polarized light. And the maximal photocurrent is demonstrated corresponding to a 25° bending angle in the (7, 0) SWCNT. Moreover, the fascinating extinction ratio is up to 177 of the bent SWCNT, which may have a good application for high polarization sensitivity infrared detection devices. In addition, the photocurrent and polarization sensitivity mainly depend on the bending angles of the SWCNT, which barely changed accompanied by shifting of the illumination sites. Our study provides a feasible way to realize self-powered and high polarization-sensitive infrared detection devices in SWCNTs.