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A carbon nanotube optical rectenna.
Asha Sharma1,2, Virendra Singh1, Thomas L Bougher1
1George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
Nature Nanotechnology
|September 29, 2015
Summary
Researchers demonstrate the first optical rectenna, converting light waves to direct current using nanoscale antennas and tunnel diodes. This breakthrough overcomes fabrication challenges, paving the way for efficient light-energy harvesting.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Photonics
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Optical rectennas, proposed over 40 years ago, convert electromagnetic waves at optical frequencies to direct current.
- Experimental demonstration has been hindered by nanoscale fabrication challenges, particularly for high-frequency diodes and antenna coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a functional optical rectenna by overcoming previous fabrication limitations.
- To engineer metal-insulator-metal tunnel diodes suitable for optical frequencies and couple them to nanoscale antennas.
Main Methods:
- Engineered metal-insulator-metal tunnel diodes with attofarad capacitance (∼2 aF).
- Utilized vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (∼10 nm diameter) as nanoscale antennas.
- Integrated diodes at the antenna tips for efficient coupling.
Main Results:
- Measured direct current (d.c.) open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current upon irradiation with visible and infrared light, indicating rectification.
- Observed power rectification under simulated solar illumination.
- Demonstrated robust diode performance with no detectable degradation after multiple scans across a temperature range.
Conclusions:
- Successfully demonstrated the first optical rectenna, validating rectenna theory through direct rectification of optical antenna fields.
- The engineered diodes and carbon nanotube antennas show potential for robust operation in light-energy harvesting applications.
