On-Chip Plasmonic Energy Harvester With Supercapacitor Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-powered nano and microsystems for IoT applications face challenges with battery replacement interruptions and energy fluctuations from sources like solar or eolian energy, requiring stable energy harvesting solutions.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a plasmonic thin film solar cell based on interdigitated MSM Schottky barriers with chalcogenide semiconductors and a planar supercapacitor on the same chip, utilizing surface plasmon polaritons for enhanced light absorption and energy storage, along with a common electrode for the solar cell and supercapacitor, and a sensor powered by the supercapacitor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery is used as an energy source for portable instruments, then the system can operate continuously, but the system requires periodic battery replacement which causes operation interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an on-chip solar cell to harvest energy from the environment and a supercapacitor to store it, enabling the system to power itself without external battery replacement. The solar cell continuously charges the supercapacitor, which in turn powers the sensor and electronics, creating a self-sustaining energy system that eliminates operational interruptions.
2Reliability
If on-chip energy harvesting devices are used to replace batteries, then battery replacement interruptions are eliminated, but the energy source fluctuates (e.g., solar or eolian energy)
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the fluctuating solar cell output and the sensor power requirements. It accumulates energy during periods of high generation and releases it during periods of low generation, smoothing out the fluctuations and providing stable power to the sensor and electronics.
3Stability of the object's composition
If supercapacitors are used to store energy from fluctuating sources, then stable energy delivery is achieved, but the energy density is lower than that of batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operating parameters by using a solar cell with optimized surface area and efficiency to compensate for the lower energy density of the supercapacitor. By maximizing the energy harvesting rate from the solar cell, the system ensures that enough energy is captured to maintain operation despite the supercapacitor's lower storage capacity compared to batteries.
4Use of energy by moving object
If plasmonic structures are added to enhance light absorption in solar cells, then quantum efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solar cell electrodes are designed with an interdigitated pattern that serves dual functions: as electrical contacts for current collection and as plasmonic structures for enhancing light absorption. This merging of electrical and optical functions into a single structure achieves high quantum efficiency without adding separate plasmonic components, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides continuous operation with stable energy harvesting, increased light absorption and photocurrent, and efficient energy storage and delivery to sensors, addressing the limitations of battery-powered systems and energy fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
enhanced light absorption and quantum efficiency by surface plasmon polariton resonances at that interface
Implementation Method 2
thin film solar cells based on interdigitated metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) Schottky barriers with enhanced light absorption and quantum efficiency
Implementation Method 3
on-chip planar interdigitated supercapacitors with electrodes based on the same chalcogenides materials
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure presents an innovative design and technology concept for an on-chip integrated self-powered nano and microsystem containing a plasmonic interdigitated metal-semiconductor-metal (SMS) Schottky thin film solar cell as energy harvester, an in-plane interdigitated supercapacitor as power source, and a sensor with interdigitated electrodes. The sensor can be an interdigitated plasmonic MSM hot electron Schottky photodetector, or an ultralow power chemiresistive gas sensor. The photoactive material of plasmonic solar cell and photodetector and the electroactive material of microsupercapacitor are based on the same chalcogenide semiconductor, like Sb2S3, and similar materials. The three modules of the self-powered on-chip integrated nano and microsystem are all connected in series and have a common electrode between the solar cell and supercapacitor and another one between the supercapacitor and the sensor. Novel design concepts for multiband, chirped wideband and, multi-polarization plasmonic solar cells and photodetectors are also disclosed here.