Plasmonic Enhanced Infrared Rectennas: Energy Harvesting, Terahertz Detection and Thermal Imaging

We propose to build a two-dimensional multi-pixel infrared detector based on rectenna technology. The rectennas comprise of a micro-antenna tuned to terahertz reception and an integrated Metal-Insulator-Metal diode. This system captures infrared radiation, rectifies it and converts it to a direct current for further processing. In this Phase II project, we plan to fabricate 2-D arrays of rectennas, quantify their figures of merit, test them at IR wavelengths, and integrate them with readout electronics to make a complete infrared sensor system. We will also seek to move towards more reliable and repeatable performance of the rectenna devices, and specifically aim to use advanced photolithography (DUV steppers) or nano-imprinting for the fabrication of the nano-scale MIM junctions. Large numbers of these rectennas connected in a conformal, light-weight array should be able harvest energy sufficient to help power complete systems including UAVs. Further, they will work as uncooled IR detectors with detectivity that is comparable to liquid nitrogen cooled MCD detectors.