Black aluminum-coated Pt/Pb(Zr0.56Ti0.44)O3/Pt thin film structures for pyroelectric energy harvesting from a light source

Abstract

A black aluminum (B-Al) film was deposited onto the surface of a stack structure of platinum/Pb(ZrxTi1 − x)O3/platinum (Pt/PZT/Pt) to convert light into a heat variation and the heat variation into a polarization change. A comparison was performed between B-Al/Pt/PZT/Pt and conventional Pt/PZT/Pt structures. An absorbance higher than 95% was measured for the B-Al layer over a large range of wavelengths varying from 350 nm to 1000 nm. The theoretical model shows that heat diffusion was extremely fast through the layers, and the sample holder played a key role in the variation and stabilization of the system temperature. A doubled variation of the polarization was observed when the light was applied onto the surface of the stack structure with stable B-Al on the top. This behavior was interpreted by the larger temperature variations induced under the highly absorptive B-Al layers, in good correlation with the theoretical model prediction based on the heat fluxes in the structures. This result is very promising for possible pyroelectric energy harvesting applications.

Structure of Randomly Distributed Nanochain Aggregates on Silicon Substrates: Modeling and Optical Absorption Characteristics

“…The nanoaggregate structure demonstrates ultralow surface reflection in the visible band [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. For nanochain aggregate structures with the same filling factor, a higher value of thickness would mean that the expected motion path of the incident photons would be longer.…”

“…Nanostructures consisting of metal nanoparticle clusters can be described as aggregates of nanocells. These sparse and porous nanostructures can efficiently capture photons, and thus exhibit excellent optical properties [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Hence, optical absorbers based on nanoaggregate structures are widely used in microbolometers [ 4 ], photothermal converters [ 5 , 6 ], solar cells [ 7 , 8 ], and photocatalysis [ 9 ].…”

Microstructure and Nanoscopic Porosity in Black Pd Films

“…BMs have found applications in the electronics devices for optical sensing and imaging, energy harvesting, gas sensors, camouflage, etc. [2][3][4][5][6]. Use of BMs in gas sensor applications profits from their extraordinary large surface area, e.g., 60 m 2 /g for black Pd [5].…”

“…BM films of various elements are deposited usually by thermal evaporation in carefully adjusted low pressure (∼ 100 Pa) of N 2 gas [7,8]. It has been reported that BMs can be prepared also by magnetron sputtering in Ar with small amount of N 2 [6][7][8][9][10]. In the growth of metallic films in PVD systems contamination from residual atmosphere should be considered [11].…”

Nanophotonic Engineering: A New Paradigm for Spectrally Sensitive Thermal Photodetectors

“…This thermal to electrical conversion is independent of the incident wavelength; as such, the spectral dependence of a thermal detector is solely determined by the absorber. Traditionally, blackened absorbers comprised of thick disordered gold, aluminum, silicon, or carbon films − are utilized to provide the thermal detectors with a broad sensitivity range covering the visible (VIS) to long-wave infrared (LWIR). Metrology and spectroscopy systems such as FTIRs and laser power meters have found use for the broad sensitivity of thermal detectors; however, the relatively low sensitivity of thermal detectors has discouraged their widespread use when compared to photoconductors (PCs) and photovoltaics/photodiodes (PVs).…”