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Harvesting dissipated energy with a mesoscopic ratchet

Author

Listed:
  • B. Roche

    (Nanoelectronics Group, Service de Physique de l’Etat Condensé)

  • P. Roulleau

    (Nanoelectronics Group, Service de Physique de l’Etat Condensé)

  • T. Jullien

    (Nanoelectronics Group, Service de Physique de l’Etat Condensé)

  • Y. Jompol

    (Nanoelectronics Group, Service de Physique de l’Etat Condensé
    Present address: Department of Physics, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand)

  • I. Farrer

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge)

  • D.A. Ritchie

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge)

  • D.C. Glattli

    (Nanoelectronics Group, Service de Physique de l’Etat Condensé)

Abstract

The search for new efficient thermoelectric devices converting waste heat into electrical energy is of major importance. The physics of mesoscopic electronic transport offers the possibility to develop a new generation of nanoengines with high efficiency. Here we describe an all-electrical heat engine harvesting and converting dissipated power into an electrical current. Two capacitively coupled mesoscopic conductors realized in a two-dimensional conductor form the hot source and the cold converter of our device. In the former, controlled Joule heating generated by a voltage-biased quantum point contact results in thermal voltage fluctuations. By capacitive coupling the latter creates electric potential fluctuations in a cold chaotic cavity connected to external leads by two quantum point contacts. For unequal quantum point contact transmissions, a net electrical current is observed proportional to the heat produced.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Roche & P. Roulleau & T. Jullien & Y. Jompol & I. Farrer & D.A. Ritchie & D.C. Glattli, 2015. "Harvesting dissipated energy with a mesoscopic ratchet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-5, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7738
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7738
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