Spintronics-based devices for Microwave Power Harvesting

Since nearly the beginning, the Schottky diode rules in the development of RF/microwave mixing and rectifying circuits. However, in the specific μW power harvesting applications, the diodes fail to provide satisfying RF-to-DC conversion efficiency mainly due to their high zero-bias junction resistance. This work introduces for the first time a nonlinear component for power rectification based on a recent discovery in spintronics: the spindiode. Along with an analysis of the role of the nonlinearity and the zero bias resistance in the rectification process, it will be shown how the spindiode can provide 10 times more power than a Schottky diode.