Power Generation from a Radiative Thermal Source Using a Large-Area Infrared Rectenna

Shank, Joshua; Kadlec, Emil A.; Jarecki, Robert L.; Starbuck, Andrew; Howell, Stephen; Peters, David W.; Davids, Paul S.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevApplied.9.054040

Power Generation from a Radiative Thermal Source Using a Large-Area Infrared Rectenna

Journal Article · Fri May 25 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Physical Review Applied

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.9.054040· OSTI ID:1464206

Shank, Joshua ^[1]; Kadlec, Emil A. ^[1]; Jarecki, Robert L. ^[1]; Starbuck, Andrew ^[1]; Howell, Stephen ^[1]; Peters, David W. ^[1]; Davids, Paul S. ^[1]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Electrical power generation from a moderate-temperature thermal source by means of direct conversion of infrared radiation is important and highly desirable for energy harvesting from waste heat and micropower applications. Here, we demonstrate direct rectified power generation from an unbiased large-area nanoantenna-coupled tunnel diode rectifier called a rectenna. Using a vacuum radiometric measurement technique with irradiation from a temperature-stabilized thermal source, a generated power density of 8 nW / cm² is observed at a source temperature of 450°C for the unbiased rectenna across an optimized load resistance. The optimized load resistance for the peak power generation for each temperature coincides with the tunnel diode resistance at zero bias and corresponds to the impedance matching condition for a rectifying antenna. Current-voltage measurements of a thermally illuminated large-area rectenna show current zero crossing shifts into the second quadrant indicating rectification. Photon-assisted tunneling in the unbiased rectenna is modeled as the mechanism for the large short-circuit photocurrents observed where the photon energy serves as an effective bias across the tunnel junction. Furthermore, the measured current and voltage across the load resistor as a function of the thermal source temperature represents direct current electrical power generation.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1464206

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1439137

Report Number(s):: SAND--2018-2950J; 662295

Journal Information:: Physical Review Applied, Journal Name: Physical Review Applied Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 9; ISSN 2331-7019; ISSN PRAHB2

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Electrical power generation from moderate-temperature radiative thermal sources Davids, Paul S.; Kirsch, Jared; Starbuck, Andrew Science, Vol. 367, Issue 6484 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba2089	journal	February 2020