What is it about?
In recent years, wireless energy harvesting technology has garnered significant attention. While solar energy harvesting is widely used, it has limitations due to weather conditions and physical obstructions. Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting, which utilizes electromagnetic waves in wireless communication, provides a viable complementary solution. To maximize energy harvesting, hybrid systems combining RF and solar energy have become an urgently needed research topic. Our research group proposes a 2.4/5.8 GHz dual-band RF energy harvesting optically transparent rectifying metasurface, which can harvest energy from both radio waves and the sun, powering various wireless devices. Related results were published in the renowned international journal Applied Physics Letters titled "An Optically Transparent Rectifying Metasurface for 2.4/5.8 GHz Dual-band RF Energy Harvesting," selected as a Featured Article and featured in an interview by the American Physical Society's Scilight. Beijing Institute of Technology is the first affiliated institution, Mr. Lin Dong is the first author, Prof. Liming Si is the corresponding author.
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Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The proposed optically transparent rectifying metasurface (RMS) system can efficiently harvest RF energy while allowing visible light to pass through, achieving hybrid RF/solar energy harvesting. This rectifying metasurface consists of an optically transparent metasurface absorber (OTMA) based on indium tin oxide (ITO) material and a voltage multiplier rectifier circuit. Through testing, a 3x3 array prototype of the RMS operates effectively at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz for Wi-Fi and maintains 80% optical transparency. Additionally, hybrid RF/solar energy harvesting tests were conducted, and the results showed that when the RMS was combined with a solar cell, its energy output increased by 13.11% compared to the solar cell alone.
Perspectives
This technology offers a novel approach to energy harvesting by combining the benefits of both radio frequency (RF) and solar energy. The optically transparent metasurface can be seamlessly integrated into various surfaces, such as windows and glass, making it unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing. By harvesting energy from both RF waves and sunlight, this technology can provide a more reliable and efficient power source for a wide range of electronic devices, including wireless sensors and small gadgets. As the demand for wireless devices and intelligent systems continues to grow, this technology is expected to play a crucial role in powering these devices and enabling new applications.
Prof. Liming Si
Beijing Institute of Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: An optically transparent rectifying metasurface for 2.4/5.8 GHz dual-band RF energy harvesting, Applied Physics Letters, January 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0242451.
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