Optical rectenna with wide wavelength coverage from a hollow resonator coupled with a metal–insulator–metal tunnel diode

Abstract

Abstract This study proposes an optical rectenna that combines a hollow resonator with a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) tunnel diode that is capable of photoelectric conversion (at various visible and infrared wavelengths). It enables the conversion of thermal radiation with different peak wavelengths, such as sunlight and thermal radiation (from heat sources in various temperature ranges), into electric power. The MIM tunnel diode was placed on the wall of a hollow resonator. It rectified the induced current generated by the resonance of the magnetic field. The photoelectric conversion capability of the proposed device applied to visible light is experimentally demonstrated in this study.