Giant Stark effect assisted radio frequency energy harvesting using atomically thin earth-abundant iron sulphide (FeS)

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 12; no. 15; pp. 894 - 8951
• Main Authors: Singh, Appu Kumar, Das, Shreyasi, Sarkar, Suman, Kundu, Tarun Kumar, Kar, Swastik, Sreeram, P. R, Tiwary, Chandra Sekhar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 16.04.2024
• Subjects: Broadband; Carrier mobility; Charging; Density functional theory; Electric contacts; Electric potential; Electric power; Electrical measurement; Electronic equipment; Energy gap; Energy harvesting; Fabrication; Frequency dependence; Frequency modulation; Iron; Iron sulfides; Liquid phases; Natural disasters; Portable equipment; Power transfer; Pyrite; Radio frequency; Radio spectra; Stark effect; Sulphides; Two dimensional materials; Voltage
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/d3ta07906f

The advancement in two-dimensional (2D) materials has led to the development of new charging methods in portable and wearable electronic devices. However, their charging methods are still confined to contact/wired mode. Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting exhibits potential for extracting electrical power from the environment, benefiting from its limitless ambient availability and extended power transfer capabilities. This paper demonstrates the fabrication of an RF energy harvesting device using liquid phase exfoliated atomically thin earth-abundant pyrite ore (iron sulfide (FeS 2 )). Owing to pyrite's unique semiconductor properties such as a very small narrow band gap (0.8 eV) and high carrier mobility (360 cm 2 V −1 s −1 ), it is possible to make a Schottky junction with a metal electrode. Hence, we fabricated a Schottky device employing a Ti/2D-FeS 2 /ITO configuration using drop casting methods. Electrical measurements reveal that the device has a low turn-on voltage of 0.18 V and a low Schottky barrier height of 0.14 eV. To substantiate the role of 2D-FeS 2 , density functional theory (DFT) studies were performed revealing the impact of the Giant Stark Effect (GSE) in lowering the bandgap of 2D FeS 2 . This insidious phenomenon of GSE in 2D-FeS 2 makes it an ideal material of choice for RF energy harvesting applications. The device we fabricated functions within the commercial frequency modulation broadband range and extends seamlessly into the very high-frequency radio spectrum. It generated a 1.5 V output voltage using commercial FM broadband frequencies, sufficient for charging a 1.5 F supercapacitor. Subsequent experimentation with a handheld walkie-talkie demonstrated that the device could achieve a maximum voltage of 3.5 V within the one-meter range, exhibiting an efficiency of 30%. The implications of this discovery suggest that 2D-FeS 2 -based wireless energy-powered portable devices hold promise for healthcare/biomedical device applications, energy harvesting in remote areas, and regions affected by floods or natural disasters. 2D FeS 2 has the potential to convert ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation signals into usable energy, which can be utilized to power portable and wearable electronic devices.