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Published on: April 12, 2018
Energy-Information Synergy via Weyl Semimetal and Topological Insulator
Hangxiang Wang1,2, Gong Jialiang1,2, Hui Li1
1State Key Laboratory for Infrared Physics, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China.
Abstract:
Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) require photodetectors that combine high-sensitivity, high-speed, and on-chip communication functions under low power and broad bandwidth. Here, we demonstrate such versatility through energy-information synergy in a single topological device. We present a TaIrTe4/Bi2Se3 van der Waals heterojunction operating at zero external bias via photothermoelectric effect and topological surface state transport. It functions concurrently as a highly sensitive subterahertz energy harvester and a wideband heterodyne receiver. The device exhibits a zero-bias responsivity of 2.25 A/W, a NEP of 2.13 pW/Hz0.5, and a submicrosecond response time. In communication mode, it supports operational coverage from the L- to W-band with a conversion bandwidth of 54 GHz and an ultralow excitation threshold below -20 dBm. System-level validation is confirmed through wireless data transmission in the W-band. This study explores a topological approach for next-generation ISAC devices, designed to concurrently improve energy harvesting and signal processing performance.
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