Single wall carbon nanotube based optical rectenna

Abstract

We present an optical rectenna by engineering a rectifying diode at the interface between a metal probe of an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) that acts as a nano-antenna. Individual SWCNT electrical and optical characteristics have been investigated using a conductive AFM nano-probe in contact with two device structures, one with a SWCNT placed on a CuO/Cu substrate and the other one with a SWCNT on a SiO₂/Si substrate. The I–V measurements performed for both designs have exhibited an explicit rectification behavior and the sensitivity of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based rectenna to light. The measured output current at a set voltage value demonstrates the significant effect of the light irradiation on the current signal generated between the Au nano-probe and CNT interface. This effect is more prominent in the case of the CuO/Cu substrate. Detailed analysis of the system, including the energy band diagram, materials characterization and finite element simulation, is included to explain the experimental observations. This work will pave the way for more investigations and potential applications of CNTs as nano-rectennas in optical communication and energy harvesting systems.