Antenna-coupled metal-insulator-metal rectifier
US9413063B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 2015 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC23C8/36
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The use of rectennas, or antenna-coupled rectifiers, using metal-insulator-metal tunnel diodes as rectifiers for energy conversion has been explored with more fervor recently, given the advances in nanotechnology fabrication and increased resolution of features. Some have made these devices from symmetric metals (e.g. Ni—NiO—Ni) and asymmetric metals (e.g. Al—AlOx/Pt), and have used deposited oxides as well as native oxides. One key to obtaining a highly asymmetric device with efficient current generation needed for high conversion efficiency is to instead use dissimilar metals and a thin reproducible oxide. The described method allows for a thin, reproducible native oxide of nickel be integrated with any antenna metal to overcome oxide surface roughness problems that typically hamper the practicality of these devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.