A Photo-Thermal-Electrical Converter Based On Carbon Nanotubes for Bioelectronic Applications

1. Issue
   

   Angewandte Chemie International Edition

   Volume 50, Issue 51,pages 12266–12270,December 16, 2011

1. Dr. Eijiro Miyako^1,*, 
2. Dr. Chie Hosokawa¹,
3. Dr. Masami Kojima¹, 
4. Dr. Masako Yudasaka², 
5. Dr. Ryoji Funahashi³, 
6. Dr. Isao Oishi¹, 
7. Dr. Yoshihisa Hagihara¹, 
8. Dr. Mototada Shichiri¹, 
9. Mizuki Takashima¹,
10. Keiko Nishio¹, 
11. Dr. Yasukazu Yoshida⁴

Article first published online: 26 OCT 2011

Electrifying! A device based on carbon nanotubes wrapped with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (and dispersed in poly(dimethylsiloxane)) sheets can effectively convert laser light into thermal energy and subsequently to electricity. The converter is flexible and extremely compact (see picture), and can be manipulated by using a laser that functions in the wavelength range that can be transmitted through living tissue.