Evaluation of Polylactic Acid Polymer as a Substrate in Rectenna for Ambient Radiofrequency Energy Harvesting

authors

• Linge Pangsui Usifu
• Gerges Tony
• Bevilacqua Pascal
• Duchamp Jean-Marc
• Benech Philippe
• Verdier Jacques
• Lombard Philippe
• Cabrera Michel
• Tsafack Pierre
• Mieyeville Fabien
• Allard Bruno

keywords

• Additive manufacturing 3D printing plastronics polylactic acid polymer radio frequency rectenna two transmission line method
• Additive manufacturing
• 3D printing
• Plastronics
• Polylactic acid polymer
• Radio frequency
• Rectenna
• Two transmission line method

abstract

This work details the design and experimental characterization of a 2D rectenna for scavenging radio frequency energy at 2.45 GHz (WiFi band), fabricated on polylactic acid polymer (PLA) using a plastronics approach. PLA is the RF substrate of both antenna and rectifier. The two transmission line (TTL) approach is used to characterize the substrate properties to be considered during design. A linearly polarized patch antenna with microstrip transmission feeding is connected to a single series diode rectifier through a T-matching network. The antenna has simulated and measured gain of 7.6 dB and 7.5 dB, respectively. The rectifier has a measured DC output power of 0.96 µW at an optimal load of 2 kΩ under RF input power of −20 dBm at 2.45 GHz. The power conversion efficiency is 9.6% in the latter conditions for a 54 × 36 mm patch antenna of a 1.5 mm thick PLA substrate obtained from additive manufacturing. The power conversion efficiency reaches a value of 28.75% when the input power is −10 dBm at 2.45 GHz. This corresponds to a peak DC power of 28.75 µW when the optimal load is 1.5 kΩ. The results compare significantly with the ones of a similar rectenna circuit manufactured on preferred RF substrate.

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