abstract

• We propose a mid-infrared device based on thermocouple optical antennas for light sensing and energy harvesting applications. We numerically demonstrate that antennas are able to generate low-power dc signals by beneficing of the thermoelectric properties of the metals that constitute them. We theoretically evaluate the optical-to-electrical conversion efficiency for harvesting applications and finally discuss strategies to increase its performance. Thermocouple optical antennas therefore open the route toward the design of photovoltaic devices. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

authors

• Alda J.
• Briones E.
• Briones J.
• Cuadrado A.
• González Contreras Francisco Javier
• Hehn M.
• Martinez-Anton J.C.
• McMurtry S.
• Montaigne F.

publication date

• 2014-01-01

published in

• Applied Physics Letters  Journal

keywords

• Nanoantennas; Seebeck

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1063/1.4895028

start page

end page

volume

• 105

issue

• 9