US Patent 7608824 - Doped carbon nanostructrure for infrared imaging

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7608824.html

This patent from UT-Battelle teaches the use of the field emission properties of carbon nanotubes to achieve infrared imaging. Claim 1 reads:

1. A detector for detecting infrared photons comprising:

at least one anode;

at least one cathode further comprising a substrate electrically connected to a plurality of doped carbon nanostructures; and

bias circuitry for applying an electric field between said anode and said cathode such that when infrared photons are absorbed by said nanostructures the emitted field current is modulated for use in a readout portion of said circuitry.