We present new designs of more efficient terahertz (THz) radiation emitters and detectors enhanced by electric field singularities using sharp and laterally offset electrodes. We compare the performances of the terahertz emission and different polarization properties resulting from these structures. An average THz radiation power of 3 &mgr;W is achieved under 20 mW excitation, calibrated by free space electro-optic sampling. We also study the gap size dependence of the THz radiation, and find an absence of a positive electrode effect in the small gap limit. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.