High-sensitivity terahertz rectification and microwave heterodyne mixing with a ZrTe2-based two-terminal rectenna

Zirconium telluride (ZrTe2), a three-dimensional Dirac semimetal, combines high carrier mobility with robust environmental and structural stability, making it a suitable material for terahertz (THz) optoelectronics. Here, we report a ZrTe2-based rectenna that integrates broadband THz rectification and heterodyne mixing in a single device. The rectenna exhibits a peak responsivity of 800 V/W over the 0.02–0.32 THz range under 175 mV bias, with an ultrafast response time of 415 ns. Furthermore, it supports higher-order subharmonic mixing up to the 7th order, achieving a 10 dB intermediate frequency bandwidth exceeding 14 GHz. These results underscore the potential of ZrTe2 for compact, high-speed, and nonlinear THz signal detection and processing, with promising implications for next-generation wireless communication and sensing technologies.