Fast-responding mid-IR light emitter using suspended multilayer graphene

Focusing on graphene's high thermal conductivity and high emissivity, we developed a mid-IR light source using a suspended graphene structure as the light emitter. Compared to conventional mid-IR light emitters, this new source has approximately 1000x faster response time and 95% lower power consumption. In addition, it features high brightness and an emission spectrum similar to that of a black body. We used multilayer graphene deposited on Ni foil and transferred it onto a micro-trench etched into a Si/SiO2 wafer to create the suspended structure. The thermal insulation provided by this design allowed for heating of the free standing segment to temperatures over 1000 deg. C through electrical currents. Packaging the light emitter into a vacuum-sealed TO-5 metal can further improved the insulation and ensures a long lifetime for the graphene light emitter. These characteristics make the light source ideal for many analytical applications.