Abstract: Demand for efficient terahertz radiation detectors resulted in intensive study of the carbon nanostructures as possible solution for that problem. In this work we investigate the response to sub-terahertz radiation of detectors with sensor elements based on CVD graphene as well as its derivatives – carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The devices are made in configuration of field effect transistors (FET) with asymmetric source and drain (vanadium and gold) contacts and operate as lateral Schottky diodes. We show that at 300K semiconducting CNTs show better performance up to 300GHz with responsivity up to 100V/W, while quasi-metallic CNTs are shown to operate up to 2.5THz. At 300 K graphene detector exhibit the room-temperature responsivity from R = 15 V/W at f = 129 GHz to R = 3 V/W at f = 450 GHz. We find that at low temperatures (77K) the graphene lateral Schottky diodes responsivity rises with the increasing frequency of the incident sub-THz radiation. We interpret this result as a manifestation of a plasmonic effect in the devices with the relatively long plasmonic wavelengths. The obtained data allows for determination of the most promising directions of development of the technology of nanocarbon structures for the detection of THz radiation.

Abstract: A generic NbN Superconducting Tunnel Junctions (STJ) technology has been developed using conventional substrates (Si and SOI-SIMOX) for making THz spectrometers including SIS receivers and RSFQ logic gates. NbN/MgO/NbN junctions with area of 1 /spl mu/m/sup 2/, Jc of 10 kA/cm/sup 2/ and low sub-gap leakage current (Vm>25 mV) are currently obtained from room temperature sputtered multilayers followed by a post-annealing at 250/spl deg/C. Using a thin MgO buffer layer deposited underneath the NbN electrodes, ensures lower NbN surface resistance values (Rs=7 /spl mu//spl Omega/) at 10 GHz and 4 K. Epitaxial NbN [100] films on MgO [100] with high gap frequency (1.4 THz) have also been achieved under the same deposition conditions at room temperature. The NbN SIS has shown good I-V photon induced steps when LO pumped at 300 GHz. We have developed an 8 levels Al/NbN multilayer process for making 1.5 THz SIS mixers (including Al antennas) on Si membranes patterned in SOI-SIMOX. Using the planarization techniques developed at the Si-MOS CEA-LETI Facility, we have also demonstrated on the possibility of extending our NbN technology to high level RSFQ circuit integration with 0.5 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ junction area, made on large area substrates (up to 8 inches).

Abstract: In this work we report on the response of asymmetric graphene based devices to subterahertz and terahertz radiation. Our devices are made in a configuration of a field-effect transistor with conduction channel between the source and drain electrodes formed with a CVD-grown graphene. The radiation is coupled through a spiral antenna to source and top gate electrodes. Room temperature responsivity of our devices is close to the values that are attractive for commercial applications. Further optimization of the device configuration may result in appearance of novel terahertz radiation detectors.

Abstract: Gas sensors based on carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNFETs) have outstanding sensitivity compared to existing technologies. However, the lack of understanding of the sensing mechanism has greatly hindered progress on calibration standards and customization of these nano-sensors. Calibration requires identifying fundamental transistor parameters and establishing how they vary in the presence of a gas. This work focuses on modeling the electrical response of CNTFETs in the presence of oxidizing (NO2) and reducing (NH3) gases and determining how the transistor characteristics are affected by gas-induced changes of contact properties, such as the Schottky barrier height and width, and by the doping level of the nanotube. From the theoretical fits of the experimental transfer characteristics at different concentrations of NO2 and NH3, we find that the CNTFET response can be modeled by introducing changes in the Schottky barrier height. These changes are directly related to the changes in the metal work function of the electrodes that we determine experimentally, independently, with a Kelvin probe. Our analysis yields a direct correlation between the ON – current and the changes in the electrode metal work function. Doping due to molecules adsorbed at the carbon-nanotube/metal interface also affects the transfer characteristics.

Abstract: Graphene is considered as a promising platform for detectors of high-frequency radiation up to the terahertz (THz) range due to its superior electron mobility. Previously, it has been shown that graphene field effect transistors (FETs) exhibit room temperature broadband photoresponse to incoming THz radiation, thanks to the thermoelectric and/or plasma wave rectification. Both effects exhibit similar functional dependences on the gate voltage, and therefore, it was difficult to disentangle these contributions in previous studies. In this letter, we report on combined experimental and theoretical studies of sub-THz response in graphene field-effect transistors analyzed at different temperatures. This temperature-dependent study allowed us to reveal the role of the photo-thermoelectric effect, p-n junction rectification, and plasmonic rectification in the sub-THz photoresponse of graphene FETs.
D.A.B. acknowledges the Leverhulme Trust for financial support. The work of D.S. was supported by Grant No. 16-19-10557 of the Russian Scientific Foundation (theoretical model). G.F., I.G., M.M., and G.G. acknowledge the Russian Science Foundation [Grant No. 14-19-01308 (MIET, cryostat upgrade) and Grant No. 17-72-30036, (MSPU, photoresponse measurements), the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (Contract No. 14.B25.31.0007 (device fabrication) and Task No. 3.7328.2017/LS (NEP analyses)] and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research [Grant No. 15-02-07841 (device design)]. The authors are grateful to Professor M. S. Shur for helpful discussions.