DEVICE FOR AUTONOMOUS COLLECTION OF LIGHT ENERGY BY RECONFIGURABLE BROADBAND PLASMONIC MOLECULAR RECTENNAS
The PlasMORE-LIGHT project aims to investigate a breakthrough concept of wavelength-tunable optical rectennas to convert light into electricity in the visible and infrared range. We are exploring a new paradigm in which the wave properties of light are exploited to convert electromagnetic waves at optical frequencies into direct current.
The proposed approach aims to study the interactions between molecular electronics and plasmonics and to develop functional nanostructured materials for energy recovery. This project combines the skills and expertise of four laboratories (IM2NP, CINaM, IEMN and ICR) in various fields including multi-physics modelling, molecular diodes, organic chemistry, nanofabrication, materials synthesis and advanced characterisation at macroscopic and nanoscopic scales.
One application of this work would be the manufacture of small autonomous power supply devices (power in the order of a hundred microwatts).