Radio frequency energy harvesting: A review on progress and development, applications, and sustainability benefits

Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting is a promising approach to convert ambient RF signals into electrical power suitable for low-energy devices. The exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has made long-term power solutions important research. This review discusses cutting-edge research on RF energy harvesting, particularly antenna design, which is crucial for maximizing energy efficiency. To deliver a structured analysis, antennas are categorized according to their frequency bands, ports, elements, and polarization modes. The performance metrics—gain, bandwidth, efficiency, and size—are evaluated and analysed in light of practical applications such as healthcare, IoT, mobile communication, and wearable systems. A design-application mapping table and wearable health monitoring case study demonstrate the technology's practicality. This review compares recent designs, discusses design trade-offs, analyses application-specific bottlenecks, and addresses issues related to fabrication challenges for body-worn and flexible systems. Moreover, promotes sustainability through decreased battery dependence, autonomous operation, and reduced electronic waste. Finally, outlines existing limitations and future works focusing on power conversion efficiency, bandwidth upgradability, dynamic range, and key controversies and technological breakthroughs. This paper further elaborates its findings to guide future antenna designs and system integration evolution towards sustainable RF energy harvesting applications for next-generation wireless and IoT applications. • Classification and performance analysis of RF energy harvesting antennas by frequency band, ports, elements, and polarization. • Comparative evaluation of recent designs, enhanced with a dedicated case study. • Design-application mapping framework to bridge antenna technology with system requirements. • Current challenges and future research directions, including research gaps technological breakthroughs. • Bridges advanced antenna technology with sustainability goals.