RF Energy-Harvesting Systems: A Systematic Review of Receiving Antennas, Matching Circuits, and Rectifiers

The widespread integration of low-power electronic devices in IoT, biomedical, and sensing applications has intensified the demand for energy-autonomous solutions. Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting (RFEH) offers a promising alternative by leveraging ambient RF signals available in both indoor and outdoor environments. Despite its conceptual appeal, practical deployment still faces major challenges. This systematic literature review (SLR) examines 25 recent studies, following the PRISMA methodology, to provide a comprehensive overview of current RFEH architectures. It focuses on three critical components: receiving antennas, impedance matching circuits (IMCs), and RF-to-DC rectifiers. Design strategies are reviewed and compared across antenna types, matching techniques, and rectifier configurations. The review also highlights persistent challenges and outlines directions for the development of compact, efficient, and robust energy-harvesting systems for next-generation wireless technologies.