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A flexible and wearable terahertz scanner

Nature Photonics volume 10, pages 809–813 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Imaging technologies based on terahertz (THz) waves have great potential for use in powerful non-invasive inspection methods. However, most real objects have various three-dimensional curvatures and existing THz technologies often encounter difficulties in imaging such configurations, which limits the useful range of THz imaging applications. Here, we report the development of a flexible and wearable THz scanner based on carbon nanotubes. We achieved room-temperature THz detection over a broad frequency band ranging from 0.14 to 39 THz and developed a portable THz scanner. Using this scanner, we performed THz imaging of samples concealed behind opaque objects, breakages and metal impurities of a bent film and multi-view scans of a syringe. We demonstrated a passive biometric THz scan of a human hand. Our results are expected to have considerable implications for non-destructive and non-contact inspections, such as medical examinations for the continuous monitoring of health conditions.

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Figure 1: Characteristics of the CNT-based THz device.
Figure 2: Dependence of the THz response on the electrode characteristics.
Figure 3: THz imaging of samples concealed behind opaque objects.
Figure 4: Flexible THz scanner and multi-view scan.
Figure 5: Passive THz imaging of a human hand.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Zeon Corporation for providing the CNT film. This work was supported in part by Collaborative Research Based on Industrial Demand and the Center of Innovation Program from the Japan Science and Technology Agency, KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP26286005, JP16H00798, JP16H00906 and JP16J09937 from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Support for Tokyotech Advanced Researchers (STAR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan

    D. Suzuki, S. Oda & Y. Kawano

Authors
  1. D. Suzuki
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  2. S. Oda
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  3. Y. Kawano
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Contributions

D.S. performed the experiments and simulations and wrote the manuscript. S.O. provided general advice regarding future applications of a flexible and wearable THz scanner. Y.K. conceived the study, participated in its coordination and assisted in writing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Y. Kawano.

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Y.K. and D.S. have filed a Japanese patent application related to this work.

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Suzuki, D., Oda, S. & Kawano, Y. A flexible and wearable terahertz scanner. Nature Photon 10, 809–813 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2016.209

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