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Carbon Nanotube Antenna for Light

Posted by timothy on from the trying-to-imagine dept.

Suidae writes "Researchers at Boston College are reporting that carbon nanotubes can be used to build an antenna that receives optical wavelengths in much the same way a radio antenna receives longer wavelengths. The electrical effects can not yet be directly measured as diodes that operate at optical frequencies would be required, but secondary radiation from the excitation can be observed. Potential applications include fiber optic data transmission and photovoltaics."

1 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. Wang should partner with Alvin Marks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Article about Lepcon and Lumeloid, Marks' super-efficient solar cells. They use sub-micron antennae to convert light to electricity. Lepcon uses metal (aluminum) antennae, and Lumeloid uses organic (polythiophene?) antennae, instead of carbon nanotubes.

    Patents by Alvin Marks

    The carbon nanotube guys didn't produce DC electricity because they don't have a super-fast rectifier. Alvin Marks has patented a design for one. Dunno if it's actually been tested, though.

    Hmmm, it looks like the femto-diode patent has expired (search for 4,720,642).