New 2D graphene hybrid composites as an effective base element of optical nanodevices

Abstract

For the first time, we estimated perspectives for using a new 2D carbon nanotube (CNT)–graphene hybrid nanocomposite as a base element of a new generation o optical nanodevices. The 2D CNT–graphene hybrid nanocomposite was modelled by two graphene monolayers between which single-walled CNTs with different diameters were regularly arranged at different distances from each other. Spectra of the real and imaginary parts of the diagonal elements of the surface conductivity tensor for four topological models of the hybrid nanocomposite have been obtained. The absorption coefficient for p-polarized and s-polarized radiation was calculated for different topological models of the hybrid nanocomposite. It was found that the characteristic peaks with high intensity appear in the UV region at wavelengths from 150 to 350 nm (related to graphene) and in the optical range from 380 to 740 nm irrespective of the diameter of the tubes and the distance between them. For waves corresponding to the most intense peaks, the absorption coefficient as a function of the angle of incidence was calculated. It was shown that the optical properties of the hybrid nanocomposite were approximately equal for both metallic and semiconductor nanotubes.

Keywords

• absorption coefficient
• 2D CNT–graphene hybrid nanocomposite
• optical conductivity
• optical nanodevices
• topological models