Design of a High-Gain Reflector-Based Slotted Antenna for RF Energy Harvesting Application

International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering |
© 2025 by SSRG - IJEEE Journal |
Volume 12 Issue 9 |
Year of Publication : 2025 |
Authors : Nilesh A. Lakade, Shankar D. Nawale |
How to Cite?
Nilesh A. Lakade, Shankar D. Nawale, "Design of a High-Gain Reflector-Based Slotted Antenna for RF Energy Harvesting Application," SSRG International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, vol. 12, no. 9, pp. 89-97, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V12I9P109
Abstract:
This study presents the design, analysis, and implementation of a rectenna system (rectifying antenna) optimized for RF energy harvesting in IoT applications. With the exponential growth of low-power IoT devices, sustainable power solutions are increasingly critical. Our work introduces a novel heptagonal patch antenna with strategically placed slots functioning at 2.45 GHz. The design fabricated on FR4 achieves a substantial gain improvement from 2.63 dBi to 6.1 dBi at 2.45 GHz and 11.5 dBi at 2.42 GHz through the integration of a reflector positioned 20 mm behind the antenna. A voltage doubler rectifier circuit utilizing SMS7630-079LF Schottky diodes successfully converts the harvested RF energy to DC power. The proposed rectenna provides a DC output voltage (VDC) of 180.8 mV placed at 45 cm from the commercial Wi-Fi router, demonstrating the solution's suitability for powering low-energy IoT devices. This cost-effective approach addresses key issues in IoT deployment by eliminating dependencies on conventional batteries and providing a sustainable alternative power for smart city applications, including agriculture, healthcare, smart factories, and transportation.
Keywords:
Antenna, Energy harvesting, IoT, Rectenna.
References:
[1] Osama Amjad et al., “Design and Implementation of Dual Band Microstrip Patch Antenna for WLAN Energy Harvesting System,” Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society Journal (ACES), vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 746-751, 2018.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Sherali Zeadally et al., “Design Architectures for Energy Harvesting in the Internet of Things,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 128, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Rony Ibrahim et al., “Novel Design for a Rectenna to Collect Pulse Waves at 2.4 GHz,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 357-365, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] Chaoyun Song et al., “A High-Efficiency Broadband Rectenna for Ambient Wireless Energy Harvesting,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 63, no. 8, pp. 3486-3495, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Yan Han, Eunji Lee, and Han Lim Lee, “Flat-Panel-Rectenna with Broad RF Energy Harvesting Coverage for Wireless-Powered Sensor Applications,” IEEE Access, vol. 13, pp. 6146-6153, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Sundeep Kumar et al, “A Compact Stacked Multisector Near-Isotropic Coverage Rectenna Array System for IoT Applications,” IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 123-126, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Euclides Lourenço Chuma et al. “A Compact-Integrated Reconfigurable Rectenna Array for RF Power Harvesting with a Practical Physical Structure,” Progress in Electromagnetics Research, vol. 70, pp. 89-98, 2018.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Daasari Surender et al., “2.45 GHz Wi-Fi Band Operated Circularly Polarized Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting in Smart City Applications,” Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 407-423, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Daasari Surender, Taimoor Khan, and Fazal Ahmed Talukdar, “A Pentagon Shaped Microstrip Patch Antenna with Slotted Ground Plane for RF Energy Harvesting,” 2020 URSI Regional Conference on Radio Science (URSI-RCRS), Varanasi, India, pp. 1-4, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[10] Prasanna Ram, N.M. Masoodhu Banu, and R. Rachel Jeeva Light, “Design and Testing of Graphene-Based Screen-Printed Antenna on Flexible Substrates for Wireless Energy Harvesting Applications,” IETE Journal of Research, vol. 69, no. 6, pp. 3604-3615, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Bikash Ranjan Behera, Priya R. Meher, and Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, “Metasurface Superstrate Inspired Printed Monopole Antenna for RF Energy Harvesting Application,” Progress in Electromagnetics Research C, vol. 110, pp. 119-133, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] Euclides Lourenço Chuma et al., “Compact Rectenna Based on a Fractal Geometry with a High Conversion Energy Efficiency Per Area,” IET Microwaves Antennas and Propagation, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 173-178, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] Miaowang Zeng et al., “A Compact Fractal Loop Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 16, pp. 2424-2427, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] Lalbabu Prashad, Harish Chandra Mohanta, and Heba G. Mohamed, “A Compact Circular Rectenna for RF-Energy Harvesting at ISM Band,” Micromachines, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 1-14, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Meng Wang et al., “Compact Dual Band Rectenna for RF Energy Harvest based on a Tree-Like Antenna,” IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 1350-1357, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] Lei Guo et al., “Designing and Modeling of a Dual-Band Rectenna with Compact Dielectric Resonator Antenna,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 1046-1050, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Kapil Bhatt et al., ‘‘Highly Efficient 2.4 and 5.8 GHz Dual-Band Rectenna for Energy Harvesting Applications,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 2637-2641, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Adel Khemar et al., “Design and Experiments of a Dual-Band Rectenna for Ambient RF Energy Harvesting in Urban Environments,” IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 49-55, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Achilles D. Boursianis et al., “Triple-Band Single- Layer Rectenna for Outdoor RF Energy Harvesting Applications,” Sensors, vol. 21, no. 10, pp. 1-18, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Shailendra Singh Ojha et al., “Dual-Wideband Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting from 5G and WIMAX,” Wireless Personal Communications, pp. 1-18, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] Shailendra Singh Ojha, Vandana Vikas Thakare, and P.K. Singhal, “Ultra-Wideband Rectenna with the Dual Ground Plane for Wide Dynamic Input Power and Load Range,” International Journal of Electronics, vol. 112, no. 2, pp. 1-25, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] Shailendra Singh Ojha, Pramod Kumar Singhal, and Vandana Vikas Thakare, “Highly Efficient Dual Diode Rectenna with an Array for RF Energy Harvesting,” Wireless Personal Communications, vol. 131, no. 4, pp. 1-22, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[23] Mohammed Muataz Hasan, and Ahmed M.A. Sabaawi, “Microstrip Patch Antenna with Multi-Fins for Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting Applications,” Progress in Electromagnetics Research C, vol. 142, pp. 61-73, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[24] Abhishek Dhar et al., “Design of a Hexagonal Slot Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting Application in Wi-Fi/WLAN Applications,” International Journal of RF and Microwave ComputerāAided Engineering, vol. 30, no. 12, pp. 1-13, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[25] Datasheet of Surface Mount Detector and Schottky Diodes, Products Details, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.skyworksinc.com/Products/Diodes/SMS7630-Series