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Title: Photovoltaic Technologies Beyond the Horizon: Optical Rectenna Solar Cell, Final Report, 1 August 2001-30 September 2002

Abstract

ITN Energy Systems is developing next-generation solar cells based on the concepts of an optical rectenna. ITN's optical rectenna consists of two key elements: (1) an optical antenna to efficiently absorb the incident solar radiation, and (2) a high-frequency metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunneling diode that rectifies the AC field across the antenna, providing DC power to an external load. The combination of a rectifying diode at the feedpoints of a receiving antenna is often referred to as a rectenna. Rectennas were originally proposed in the 1960s for power transmission by radio waves for remote powering of aircraft for surveillance or communications platforms. Conversion efficiencies greater than 85% have been demonstrated at radio frequencies (efficiency defined as DC power generated divided by RF power incident on the device). Later, concepts were proposed to extend the rectennas into the IR and optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum for use as energy collection devices (optical rectennas).

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
15003607
Report Number(s):
NREL/SR-520-33263
ACQ-1-30619-11; TRN: US200434%%95
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-99-GO10337
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1 Feb 2003; Related Information: Worked performed by ITN Energy Systems, Inc., Littleton, Colorado
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; 42 ENGINEERING; AIRCRAFT; ANTENNAS; COMMUNICATIONS; EFFICIENCY; ENERGY SYSTEMS; POWER TRANSMISSION; RECTENNAS; SOLAR CELLS; SOLAR RADIATION; TUNNELING; SOLAR ENERGY; SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION; PV; SOLAR CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY; OPTICAL RECTENNA SOLAR CELL; FREE-SPACE WAVELENGTH; BROADBAND ELECTROMAGNETIC FREQUENCY SPECTRUM; METAL-INSULATOR-METAL (MIM); NANOPATTERNED DIODE; ELECTRON BEAM EVAPORATION; SOLAR ENERGY - PHOTOVOLTAICS

Citation Formats

Berland, B. Photovoltaic Technologies Beyond the Horizon: Optical Rectenna Solar Cell, Final Report, 1 August 2001-30 September 2002. United States: N. p., 2003. Web. doi:10.2172/15003607.
Berland, B. Photovoltaic Technologies Beyond the Horizon: Optical Rectenna Solar Cell, Final Report, 1 August 2001-30 September 2002. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/15003607
Berland, B. 2003. "Photovoltaic Technologies Beyond the Horizon: Optical Rectenna Solar Cell, Final Report, 1 August 2001-30 September 2002". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/15003607. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/15003607.
@article{osti_15003607,
title = {Photovoltaic Technologies Beyond the Horizon: Optical Rectenna Solar Cell, Final Report, 1 August 2001-30 September 2002},
author = {Berland, B},
abstractNote = {ITN Energy Systems is developing next-generation solar cells based on the concepts of an optical rectenna. ITN's optical rectenna consists of two key elements: (1) an optical antenna to efficiently absorb the incident solar radiation, and (2) a high-frequency metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunneling diode that rectifies the AC field across the antenna, providing DC power to an external load. The combination of a rectifying diode at the feedpoints of a receiving antenna is often referred to as a rectenna. Rectennas were originally proposed in the 1960s for power transmission by radio waves for remote powering of aircraft for surveillance or communications platforms. Conversion efficiencies greater than 85% have been demonstrated at radio frequencies (efficiency defined as DC power generated divided by RF power incident on the device). Later, concepts were proposed to extend the rectennas into the IR and optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum for use as energy collection devices (optical rectennas).},
doi = {10.2172/15003607},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/15003607}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2003},
month = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2003}
}