Multilayer graphene-based rectenna for RF energy harvesting at the 2.4 GHz band

This research examines the efficiency of copper, single-layer graphene, and multilayer graphene rectennas for radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting at a resonant frequency of 2.4 GHz. Using advanced simulation software, key antenna parameters such as return loss (S11), Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), gain, and output voltage were analyzed to evaluate the performance of the designed antennas in capturing and converting RF energy. The results show that the multilayer graphene antenna provides the best performance, with a return loss of -44.53 dB and a VSWR of about 1.01, indicating excellent impedance matching and minimal power reflection. Although the copper antenna achieved the highest gain of 5.63 dB, the multilayer graphene antenna showed a similar gain of 5.47 dB, with only a small difference in effective radiated power. In addition, the multilayer graphene antenna produced the highest output voltage among the three types, highlighting its potential for RF energy harvesting. These findings suggest that multilayer graphene can improve the energy harvesting performance of rectennas by enhancing impedance matching and maximizing voltage output. Therefore, multilayer graphene appears to be a promising alternative to traditional copper materials for RF energy harvesting applications, especially for powering low-energy devices such as wireless sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.