Miniaturized EBG Antenna for Efficient 5.8 GHz RF Energy Harvesting in Self-Powered IoT and Medical Sensors
Yahya Albaihani, Rizwan Akram, Abdullah Almohaimeed, Ziyad M. Almohaimeed, Lukman O. Buhari, Mahmoud Shaban
Abstract
This study presents a compact and high-efficiency microstrip antenna integrated with a square electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structure for radio frequency energy harvesting to power battery-less Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and medical devices in the 5.8 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. The proposed antenna features a compact design with reduced physical dimensions of 36 × 40 mm2 (0.69λo × 0.76λo) while providing high-performance parameters such as a reflection coefficient of −27.9 dB, a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.08, a gain of 7.91 dBi, directivity of 8.1 dBi, a bandwidth of 188 MHz, and radiation efficiency of 95.5%. Incorporating EBG cells suppresses surface waves, enhances gain, and optimizes impedance matching through 50 Ω inset feeding. The simulated and measured results of the designed antenna show a high correlation. This study demonstrates a robust and promising solution for high-performance wireless systems requiring a compact size and energy-efficient operation.