Textile-based Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting and Storage using Ultra-Compact Rectennas with High Effective-to-Physical Area Ratio

Wagih, M. , Hillier, N., Weddell, A. and Beeby, S. (2021) Textile-based Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting and Storage using Ultra-Compact Rectennas with High Effective-to-Physical Area Ratio. In: 2021 IEEE 20th International Conference on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications (PowerMEMS), Exeter, United Kingdom, 06-08 Dec 2021, pp. 32-35. ISBN 9781665422185 (doi: 10.1109/PowerMEMS54003.2021.9658367)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

Wearable Radio Frequency (RF) rectennas do not require expensive or hazardous materials and can be easily integrated with conventional e-textiles. In this paper, we investigate the use of ultra-miniaturized wire-type monopole antennas for energy harvesting (EH) applications, as a method maximizing the effective collection area of a rectenna relative to its physical size, while not reducing the net DC output. The rectenna, operating in the 915 MHz band, is integrated with a simple carbon-based e-textile supercapacitor for direct energy conversion and storage. The integrated module is then demonstrated, for the first time, wirelessly-charging a Bluetooth Low Energy sensor node at over 1 m distance from a license-free Powercast transmitter. The 14.1 mF supercapacitor is charged using the e-textile rectenna filament in 83 s up to 4.14 V, from an incident power density of 23.9 μW/cm2 and a time-averaged efficiency over 40%, enabling the sensor node to sustain operation for 108 s after the wireless RF source is stopped. Compared to state-of-the-art RF energy harvesters, the proposed module achieves over five fold improvement in the RF to DC power harvesting efficiency normalized to the harvester’s area.

Item Type:Conference Proceedings
Keywords:rectennas, supercapacitor, textile supercapacitor, textile, RF, energy harvesting, RFEH, wireless power transfer, wireless power transmission, rectifiers, rectenna supercapacitor integration, wearable rectennas, antenna effective area
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Wagih, Dr Mahmoud
Authors: Wagih, M., Hillier, N., Weddell, A., and Beeby, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:2021 IEEE 20th International Conference on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications (PowerMEMS)
Publisher:IEEE
ISBN:9781665422185
Published Online:30 December 2021
Related URLs:

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record