Broadband Quantum Rectification and Mixing Via the Nonlinear Transport in PtTe₂

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT), 6G communication, and millimeter wave systems necessitates advanced broadband rectifiers and mixers.
• Conventional semiconductor technologies face high-frequency limitations due to threshold voltages and junction capacitance, hindering signal processing.
• A junction-free approach using the nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE) offers a promising alternative for broadband signal processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore PtTe2 thin films as a novel material platform for the nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE).
• To investigate the potential of PtTe2 for high-frequency signal processing applications, including rectification and frequency mixing.
• To establish PtTe2 as a viable material for wafer-scale processing in next-generation electronic devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and characterization of PtTe2 thin films.
• Measurement of second-order conductivity and DC conductivity at room temperature.
• Demonstration of bias-free rectification and frequency mixing across various frequency ranges (THz and GHz).

Main Results:

• PtTe2 thin films exhibit a high second-order conductivity (0.005 Ω⁻¹ V⁻¹) and DC conductivity (9.5 × 10⁵ S/m).
• Achieved bias-free rectification from 0.62 to 2.88 THz.
• Demonstrated frequency mixing from 0.1 to 40 GHz, including wireless mixing in the GHz regime, with a passive mixer showing a 1 dB compression point of 8 dBm.

Conclusions:

• PtTe2 thin films are a promising material for realizing the nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE).
• The demonstrated high conductivity and nonlinear response make PtTe2 suitable for broadband, junction-free signal processing.
• PtTe2 offers a wafer-scale compatible platform for high-frequency applications, advancing next-generation communication and electronic technologies.