Straightening antennas or rectennas were developed more than 40 years ago and used to intercept the so -called parasitic radiation, which were then converted into electric energy. However, in view of the weak efficiency of them had to be abandoned. Everything has changed with the advent of carbon nanotubes.
A group of engineers of the Georgia Technological Institute has developed modern rectennas who have the ability to capture light and convert it into direct current. This became possible thanks to the massif of billions of vertical carbon nanotubes in the upper part of the silicon substrate formed by chemical precipitation from steam.
Each of the nanotubes is an glazed isolator of aluminum oxide, and the entire array is limited by optically transparent layers of aluminum and calcium, which perform the function of the anode. As a result of complex processes, a charge arises, which passing through the built -in rectifiers, convert alternating current into constant.
So far, a team of engineers, led by Baratondo Cola, has managed to create a device with an efficiency of only 1 %. However, scientists are full of optimism and are sure that this is far from the limit and eventually it will be possible to reach significantly higher indicators, thus increasing the efficiency of solar panels, at least half.
