Quantum theory of operation for rectenna solar cells

Optical rectennas, sub-micrometre antenna-coupled diodes, can directly rectify solar and thermal electromagnetic radiation, and have been proposed as an alternative to conventional semiconductor photovoltaics. We develop a comprehensive description of the operating principle of rectenna solar cells. In prior work classical concepts from microwave rectenna theory have been applied to the analysis of photovoltaic power generation using these ultra-high frequency rectifiers. Because of their high photon energy the interaction of petahertz frequency waves with fast-responding diodes requires a semiclassical analysis. We use the theory of photon-assisted transport to derive the current–voltage [I(V)] characteristics of metal/insulator/metal tunnel diodes under illumination. We show how power is generated in the second quadrant of the I(V) characteristic, derive solar cell parameters, and analyse the key variables that influence the performance under monochromatic radiation and to a first order approximation. The efficiency improves with reduced dark current under reverse bias and increasing incident electromagnetic power.

[1]  Mario Dagenais,et al.  Solar spectrum rectification using nano-antennas and tunneling diodes , 2010, OPTO.

[2]  Scattering theory of photon-assisted electron transport , 1998, cond-mat/9803306.

[3]  Marc J. Feldman,et al.  Quantum detection at millimeter wavelengths , 1985 .

[4]  Richard Corkish,et al.  Solar energy collection by antennas , 2002 .

[5]  A. Dayem,et al.  Quantum Interaction of Microwave Radiation with Tunneling Between Superconductors , 1962 .

[6]  J. Tucker,et al.  Quantum limited detection in tunnel junction mixers , 1979 .

[7]  V. Mlinar.  Engineered nanomaterials for solar energy conversion , 2013, Nanotechnology.

[8]  B. M. Kale.  Electron Tunneling Devices In Optics , 1985 .

[9]  M. Dagenais,et al.  A Focused Asymmetric Metal–Insulator–Metal Tunneling Diode: Fabrication, DC Characteristics and RF Rectification Analysis , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices.

[10]  Saumil Joshi,et al.  Efficiency limits of rectenna solar cells: Theory of broadband photon-assisted tunneling , 2013 .

[11]  J. P. Gordon,et al.  Multiphoton Process Observed in the Interaction of Microwave Fields with the Tunneling between Superconductor Films , 1963 .

[12]  J. Tucker,et al.  Photon detection in nonlinear tunneling devices , 1978 .

[13]  R. L. Bailey,et al.  A Proposed New Concept for a Solar-Energy Converter , 1972 .

[14]  Photon-assisted transport in semiconductor nanostructures , 2003, cond-mat/0311001.

[15]  H. Queisser,et al.  Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p‐n Junction Solar Cells , 1961 .

[16]  Richard M. Osgood,et al.  Nanoantenna-coupled MIM nanodiodes for efficient vis/nir energy conversion , 2007, SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy.

[17]  Gunnar Tamm,et al.  New and emerging developments in solar energy , 2004 .

[18]  Sachit Grover,et al.  Engineering the current-voltage characteristics of metal-insulator-metal diodes using double-insulator tunnel barriers , 2012 .

[19]  Steven D. Novack,et al.  SOLAR NANTENNA ELECTROMAGNETIC COLLECTORS , 2008 .

[20]  G. Moddel,et al.  Applicability of Metal/Insulator/Metal (MIM) Diodes to Solar Rectennas , 2011, IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics.

[21]  Stavros V. Georgakopoulos,et al.  Multifunctional nanodevices for energy harvesting in unconventional spectral ranges , 2010, Defense + Commercial Sensing.

[22]  Ali Javan,et al.  The MOM tunneling diode - Theoretical estimate of its performance at microwave and infrared frequencies , 1978 .

[23]  Sachit Grover,et al.  Diodes for Optical Rectennas , 2011 .

[24]  H. Rothuizen,et al.  Nanometer thin-film Ni-NiO-Ni diodes for detection and mixing of 30 THz radiation , 1998 .

[25]  Bokang Patrick Motjolopane,et al.  A review of rectenna models for electromagnetic energy harvesting , 2009 .

[26]  Glenn D. Boreman,et al.  Antenna-coupled MOM diodes for dual-band detection in MMW and LWIR , 2004, SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing.

[27]  William C. Brown,et al.  The technology and application of free-space power transmission by microwave beam , 1974 .

[28]  N. M. Miskovsky,et al.  Simulations of infrared and optical rectification by geometrically asymmetric metal–vacuum–metal junctions for applications in energy conversion devices , 2010, Nanotechnology.

[29]  F. J. González,et al.  Comparison of dipole, bowtie, spiral and log-periodic IR antennas , 2005 .

[30]  G. Moddel,et al.  Traveling-Wave Metal/Insulator/Metal Diodes for Improved Infrared Bandwidth and Efficiency of Antenna-Coupled Rectifiers , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology.

[31]  Subramanian Krishnan,et al.  Tunnel Junction based Rectenna—A Key to Ultrahigh Efficiency Solar/Thermal Energy Conversion , 2010 .

[32]  Sachit Grover,et al.  Optical rectenna solar cells using graphene geometric diodes , 2011, 2011 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.