A Zero-Bias, Completely Passive 28 THz Rectenna for Energy Harvesting from Infrared (Waste Heat)

G. Jayaswal, A. Belkadi, A. Meredov, B. Pelz, G. Moddel, A. Shamim

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Waste Heat is available in the mid infrared (IR) range and is a completely untapped area as a renewable energy source. In this work, we show that through the combination of a plasmonic antenna and a high-speed Metal/Insulator/Metal (MIM) diode, a passive rectenna can be formed which can couple and rectify IR to provide useful DC. The plasmonic bowtie antenna has been optimized to provide many orders of field enhancement and then to take advantage of this enhanced localized field. A MIM diode is formed by overlapping the two tips of the bowtie by 200 nm. A 1.5 nm Al2O3thin film is sandwiched between the two metal arms to realize the MIM diode structure. Two different work function metals (gold and titanium) are used to provide asymmetry, enabling electron tunneling through this MIM diode without any applied bias. A custom optical characterization setup employing a 10.6 μm CO2laser has been used to demonstrate the IR capture and rectification through the rectenna device. A polarization dependent voltage output which is well above the noise level confirms the successful rectenna operation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2018 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages355-358
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9781538650677
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 17 2018
Event2018 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2018 - Philadelphia, United States
Duration: Jun 10 2018Jun 15 2018

Publication series

NameIEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest
Volume2018-June
ISSN (Print)0149-645X

Conference

Conference2018 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPhiladelphia
Period06/10/1806/15/18

Keywords

  • Metal/Insulator/Metal (MIM) diode
  • Nano rectenna
  • Rectenna
  • THz energy harvesting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Radiation
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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