C₅₉N peapods sensing the temperature

We report the novel photoresponse of nanodevices made from azafullerene (C₅₉N)-encapsulated single-walled carbon nanotubes (C₅₉N@SWNTs), so called peapods. The photoconducting properties of a C₅₉N@SWNT are measured over a temperature range of 10 to 300 K under a field-effect transistor configuration. It is found that the photosensitivity of C₅₉N@SWNTs depends very sensitively on the temperature, making them an attractive candidate as a component of nanothermometers covering a wide temperature range. Our results indicate that it is possible to read the temperature by monitoring the optoelectronics signal of C₅₉N@SWNTs. In particular, sensing low temperatures would become more convenient and easy by giving a simple light pulse.