Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting

This paper proposes the integration of a specially designed metamaterial substrate with an ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna to form a highly efficient meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesting across a broad frequency range (800 MHz to 3 GHz), encompassing all major RF communication...

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Main Authors: Emanoil Surducan, Vasile Surducan, Robert Gutt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502239X
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author Emanoil Surducan
Vasile Surducan
Robert Gutt
author_facet Emanoil Surducan
Vasile Surducan
Robert Gutt
author_sort Emanoil Surducan
collection DOAJ
description This paper proposes the integration of a specially designed metamaterial substrate with an ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna to form a highly efficient meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesting across a broad frequency range (800 MHz to 3 GHz), encompassing all major RF communication bands. A patented, custom-designed UWB antenna is employed alongside a metamaterial substrate composed of a microstrip structure featuring a logarithmic copper spiral. The spiral metamaterial is analyzed both individually as an antenna element operating near 1 GHz and as part of a multi-unit array to characterize its reflection (S11) and transmission (S12) properties. Notably, the metamaterials enhance coupling below 1 GHz when compared to a conventional reference rectenna. The combined metamaterial-antenna system (meta-antenna) is experimentally characterized using transmission measurements, where the metamaterial's impact is clearly observed in the sub-1 GHz range. Employing a rectifying circuit, the resulting meta-rectenna array, consisting of four serially connected rectennas, is tested for EM harvesting potential from 500 MHz to 3 GHz. The system demonstrates significant energy harvesting performance in frequency regions where the reference rectenna remains inactive. Without requiring any antenna redesign, the use of metamaterials leads to a 60× increase in harvested power at key resonant frequencies, showcasing the effectiveness of combining spiral metamaterials with a UWB antenna in next-generation wireless power and energy harvesting applications.
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spelling doaj-art-07dda9fd6ff34d81bb752db8535d6aea2025-08-20T03:12:31ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710616710.1016/j.rineng.2025.106167Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvestingEmanoil Surducan0Vasile Surducan1Robert Gutt2National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaCorresponding author.; National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaThis paper proposes the integration of a specially designed metamaterial substrate with an ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna to form a highly efficient meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesting across a broad frequency range (800 MHz to 3 GHz), encompassing all major RF communication bands. A patented, custom-designed UWB antenna is employed alongside a metamaterial substrate composed of a microstrip structure featuring a logarithmic copper spiral. The spiral metamaterial is analyzed both individually as an antenna element operating near 1 GHz and as part of a multi-unit array to characterize its reflection (S11) and transmission (S12) properties. Notably, the metamaterials enhance coupling below 1 GHz when compared to a conventional reference rectenna. The combined metamaterial-antenna system (meta-antenna) is experimentally characterized using transmission measurements, where the metamaterial's impact is clearly observed in the sub-1 GHz range. Employing a rectifying circuit, the resulting meta-rectenna array, consisting of four serially connected rectennas, is tested for EM harvesting potential from 500 MHz to 3 GHz. The system demonstrates significant energy harvesting performance in frequency regions where the reference rectenna remains inactive. Without requiring any antenna redesign, the use of metamaterials leads to a 60× increase in harvested power at key resonant frequencies, showcasing the effectiveness of combining spiral metamaterials with a UWB antenna in next-generation wireless power and energy harvesting applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502239XUltra wideband antennaRectennaMetamaterialMeta-rectennaElectromagnetic energy harvesting
spellingShingle Emanoil Surducan
Vasile Surducan
Robert Gutt
Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting
Results in Engineering
Ultra wideband antenna
Rectenna
Metamaterial
Meta-rectenna
Electromagnetic energy harvesting
title Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting
title_full Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting
title_fullStr Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting
title_full_unstemmed Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting
title_short Meta-rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting
title_sort meta rectenna array for electromagnetic energy harvesting
topic Ultra wideband antenna
Rectenna
Metamaterial
Meta-rectenna
Electromagnetic energy harvesting
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502239X
work_keys_str_mv AT emanoilsurducan metarectennaarrayforelectromagneticenergyharvesting
AT vasilesurducan metarectennaarrayforelectromagneticenergyharvesting
AT robertgutt metarectennaarrayforelectromagneticenergyharvesting