SBIR Phase I: Direct Conversion of IR Radiation with Nanowire Antenna Arrays and Nanometer Scale Monolithically Integrated Rectifying Diodes

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop an enabling innovation that directly converts infrared (IR) radiation from heated sources using nanowire antennas and nanometer scale monolithically integrated diodes. This program will create IR-collecting modules using very inexpensive metal materials and electrochemical processing. The low efficiency, expensive materials, and the need to chemically tailor compositions to efficiently couple to different emitters have substantially limited commercialization of thermophotovoltaic modules to niche applications. The feasibility of electrochemically formed IR-collecting modules will be demonstrated. Once demonstrated, antennas will be engineered for maximum collection efficiency. The applications vary from low temperature portable power packs to the generation of electricity from high temperature nuclear and conventional heat sources. In addition, the creation of a non-biased, room temperature, quantum confinement structure has the potential to revolutionize IR detector technology