Graphene-based nano-rectenna in the far infrared frequency band

In this paper we propose a realistic nano-rectenna able to harvest from human heat in the infrared frequency band (around 30 THz). The full-wave designs of both an array and a multi-element antenna are presented, taking into account the non-trivial behavior of gold at these frequencies. The use of an original diode realized on a graphene layer, and the derivation of its model from ballistic theory, allow to compare the rectifying performance from both modelling and measurements point of view. Encouraging results in terms of both rectified current of a single nano-rectenna and of power rectified by a macro-system combining thousands of nano-rectennas are shown.