Rectenna materials improving low scale RF power harvesting for embedded miniature sensors

Abstract

The paper reviews suitable innovative materials used to improve harvesting power through ambient Radio Frequency (RF) needed for standalone embedded sensors. The Rectenna (a combination of a rectifier and antenna) material is one of the main three key elements constituting the scavenging system including the resonator based on the material, the number of multiplier stages and the low pass filter. The system uses electromagnetic waves travelling in ambient air captured through an antenna to an electronic unit and will excite a subsystem to harvest energy. This subsystem is the heart of the concept of power scavenging and is material based concept in most of the cases treated in this paper.