Optical Rectennas
It has been theorized that similar devices, scaled down to the proportions used in nanotechnology, could be used to convert light into electricity at greater efficiencies than what is currently possible with solar cells. This type of device is called an optical rectenna or nantenna. Theoretically, high efficiencies can be maintained as the device shrinks, but experiments funded by the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory have so far only obtained roughly 1% efficiency while using infrared light. Nevertheless, Missouri University recently reported on work to develop low-cost, high-efficiency nantennas (optical-frequency rectennas).
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