Nanoscale Rectification of Infrared Energy for Wireless Power Transfer

This proposal outlines a scalable and low-cost nanofabrication method currently being used by Mainstream Engineering that, when applied to receiver circuits for electromagnetic energy harvesting, will enhance direct rectification conversion efficiency, thus making this technology ideal for wireless power transfer. Power transmission does not appreciably dissipate over long distances (meters – kilometers), nor does the size of the transmitter/receiver array. The frequency of power transmission does not introduce EMI to ancillary devices and there is no appreciable high strength magnetic field; this eliminates possible harmful human side-effects. Furthermore, the technique utilizes self-assembly which is extremely low-cost and highly scalable. Diodes have also previously been incorporated into these devices and it is expected that they are capable of rectifying at frequencies as high as 100 THz. The proposed process allows a 1 mm2 collector/rectifier array to be fabricated virtually as easily as a 1 m2 substrate. The enhanced collector/converters can also be fabricated atop conformal/conformable supports and the transmitter/receiver assembly can “handshake” in order to direct power transfer and provide a safety shutoff when no receiver is detected.