BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to a carbon based material for an optical device.

An optical rectenna is a device that can convert electromagnetic radiation in optical range of spectrum into current through rectification. An optical rectenna to collect solar energy are generally known, where different approaches and development have been taken toward a practical fabrication of solar cells using optical rectennas. To date, however, there exists a need for further development in practice and in view of the difficulties and challenges for achieving large-scale nanostructures for optical application and at low cost. For example, there are two main challenges to rectenna device development. First, the antenna part of the device needs to be small enough to collect the electromagnetic radiation and to convert the signal into an alternating current. Second, the response time of the rectifying diode must be short enough to respond to the changes in the polarity of the electron oscillations in the antennas.

A carbon nanotubes (CNT)-insulator-metal diode has been developed. The CNT-insulator-metal diode is used as an optical rectenna which can operate in the optical range of the spectrum. The CNT-insulator-metal diode includes a CNT layer, an insulator layer provided between the CNT layer and a metal layer. An effort in improving the performance of the CNT-insulator-metal diode was conducted by modifying the properties of the insulator layer, such as an aluminum oxide layer. However, the CNT-insulator-metal diode as an optical rectenna still has relatively low solar energy conversion efficiency, and thus, there exists a need to improve the electrical and optical properties of the device including the CNT layer.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure generally relates to a carbon based material for an optical device.

For example, the present disclosure relates to a carbon based material, optical rectenna having the carbon based material, energy conversion devices having optical rectennas, and more particularly to high-efficiency solar cells having an array of optical rectennas capable of receiving and transmitting solar energy and converting the solar energy into direct current electricity.

In light of the present disclosure, and without limiting the scope of the disclosure in any way, in an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, a carbon based material is provided. The carbon based material includes a carbon nanomaterial chemically bonded with a metal material, where the carbon nanomaterial includes a fluorine material.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the carbon nanomaterial includes a carbon nanotube.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the carbon nanotube includes a single-walled carbon nanotube.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the carbon nanotube includes a double-walled carbon nanotube.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the carbon nanotube includes a multi-walled carbon nanotube.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the carbon nanotube includes open tip carbon nanotubes, capped carbon nanotubes and combinations thereof including open tip single-walled carbon nanotubes, capped single-walled, open-tip multi-walled carbon nanotubes, capped multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the carbon nanomaterial is chemically doped with the fluorine material.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the fluorine material is chemically doped at an end region of the carbon nanomaterial.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the fluorine material is chemically doped at a capped region of the carbon nanomaterial.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, a single carbon ring at an end region of the carbon nanomaterial is fluorinated.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, two carbon rings at an end region of the carbon nanomaterial are fluorinated.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, four carbon rings at an end region of the carbon nanomaterial are fluorinated.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, the metal material includes a transition metal, such as, silver.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, an optical rectenna is provided. The optical rectenna includes a diode. The diode includes a carbon nanomaterial chemically bonded with a metal material, where the carbon nanomaterial is chemically doped with a fluorine material.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, a solar cell is provided. The solar cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode and an active layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the active layer includes an optical rectenna of the present technology.

According to the present disclosure, the diode having the carbon based material demonstrates an enhanced diode effect. The present technology is safe and environmentally friendly to fabricate. In addition, the present technology can be fabricated at a lower cost as compared to conventional diodes having an insulating layer.

It should be noted that the effects of the present technology described herein should not be considered limiting, and other suitable properties relating to the present technology may be realized and as further described.

