Editing Rectifier (section)

== Current research ==
A major area of research is to develop higher frequency rectifiers, that can rectify into terahertz and light frequencies.  These devices are used in [[optical heterodyne detection]], which has myriad applications in [[optical fiber]] communication and [[atomic clock]]s.  Another prospective application for such devices is to directly rectify light waves picked up by tiny [[antenna (radio)|antennas]], called [[nantenna]]s, to produce DC electric power.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1269&mode=2&featurestory=DA_10104|title=Harvesting the sun's energy with antennas|year=2007|author=Idaho National Laboratory|access-date=2008-10-03}}</ref> It is thought that arrays of antennas could be a more efficient means of producing [[solar power]] than [[solar cell]]s.

A related area of research is to develop smaller rectifiers, because a smaller device has a higher cutoff frequency.  Research projects are attempting to develop a [[unimolecular rectifier]], a single [[organic molecule]] that would function as a rectifier.