The enhancement of photo-thermo-electric conversion in tilted Bi2Sr2Co2O(y) thin films through coating a layer of single-wall carbon nanotubes light absorber.

Light-induced transverse thermoelectric effect has been investigated in c-axis tilted Bi(2)Sr(2)Co(2)O(y) thin films coated with a single-wall carbon nanotubes light absorption layer. Open-circuit voltage signals were detected when the sample surface was irradiated by different lasers with wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared and the voltage sensitivity was enhanced as a result of the increased light absorption at the carbon nanotubes layer. Moreover, the enhancement degree was found to be dependent on the laser wavelength as well as the absorption coating size. This work opens up new strategy toward the practical applications of layered cobaltites in photo-thermo-electric conversion devices.