Due to the nearly-vertical alignment and the band structure of graphite, carbon nanotube forests could have near-unity emissivity which make them ideal candidates as the absorbers for radiometric devices. However, forest height, carbon nanotube density, and the presence of surface defects will affect the total reflectance and transmittance. With optimized growth conditions, a total reflectance of 0.003 and a transmittance of 0.001 has been achieved in the 2 µm - 16 µm spectral region. Fabrication of a suspended thermistor-type bolometer incorporating a carbon nanotube forest as the absorber is discussed
