Rectenna developments for solar energy collection

The rectenna concept for solar energy collection rests on the dual wave/photon nature of light. The recent developments in nanotechnology and manufacturing led to the re-examination of the rectenna concept for solar energy collection. Two fundamental physical limitations, skin effect resistance and very low voltage per antenna element, were identified for the rectenna system. This paper reports on research efforts to identify the problems through experimentation at lower frequencies and simulation at the light frequencies and has identified possible design solutions to some of the problems.