3D-Printed Metasurface Units for Potential Energy Harvesting Applications at the 2.4 GHz Frequency Band

Abstract

The capability of three-dimensional printed cut-wire metasurfaces to harvest energy in frequencies around 2.4 GHz, is studied in this paper. Cut-wire metasurfaces were constructed using the Fused Filament Fabrication technique. In particular, two metasurfaces, consisting of different materials were produced. The first was constructed using Polylactic Acid as starting material. Then, the printed metasurface was covered with a thin layer of conductive silver paint, in order to achieve good electrical conductivity. The other metasurface was built using commercially available, conductive Electrifi. Both metasurfaces exhibit good energy harvesting behavior, in the frequency band near 2.4 GHz. Their harvesting efficiency is found to be almost three times lower than that obtained for conventional PCB-printed cut-wire metasurfaces. Nevertheless, all of the experimental results presented here strongly corroborate that three-dimensional-printed metasurfaces can be potentially used to harvest energy in the 2.4 GHz frequency band.

Fabrication of Metasurfaces on Building Construction Materials for Potential Electromagnetic Applications in the Microwave Band

“…The S 21 minimum is shallow (i.e., less than −4 dB) and noisy; nevertheless, it occurs at the same frequency where the PCB-printed cut-wire MS resonates, suggesting its intrinsic nature. Similar resonance results have been obtained for 3D-printed cut-wire MSs as well [ 33 ]. Moreover, by turning the MS 90° with respect to electric field counterpart of the incident EM wave, the S 21 spectrum, in the E x polarization, is obtained ( Figure 7 b).…”

“…Polylactic acid (PLA) filament has been used as the starting material. Notably, the FDM method, along with PLA filaments, has been previously used to develop stand-alone MSs for sensing and energy harvesting applications in the microwave regime [ 2 , 33 ]. Therefore, it is a perfect combination for the formation of shadow masks in the mm range.…”

“…In this context, a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) was used (P9372A Streamline Vector Network Analyzer, Keysight, CA, USA) in combination with WR187 standard horn antennas ( Figure 2 b). Details regarding the technique and measurement performance have been previously described [ 2 , 33 , 34 ]. Corresponding EM measurements for PCB-printed MSs are also presented for direct comparison.…”

“…In addition, 3D printed, stand-alone, cut-wire MSs were developed to collect microwave energy at frequencies around 2.4 GHz and transform it into electrical power. With an efficiency of ~7%, such MSs are quite promising for potential energy harvesting applications in the mm-wavelength band [ 33 ]. Considering that microwave sources (wi-fi hubs, microwave ovens, antennas, electronic circuits, etc.)…”

Meta-Atoms with Toroidal Topology for Strongly Resonant Responses

“…Details regarding the printing process and conditions can be found in refs. [ 36 , 37 ]. Free-standing meta-atoms, such as those depicted in Figure 1 c, were successfully fabricated.…”