3D Printed Metamaterials for RF Energy Harvesting Applications

This webinar will present recent advances in 3D‑printed and CNC‑fabricated metamaterial metasurfaces for radio‑frequency (RF) energy harvesting, with emphasis on the 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi band and neighboring microwave frequencies. These structures are based on metamaterials composed of sub‑wavelength metallic inclusions that support tailored electric, magnetic, and toroidal resonances.

We will present metasurfaces fabricated by fused‑deposition modelling using commercially available polymer and conductive nanocomposite filaments, designed to resonate around 2.4–2.5 GHz, where Wi‑Fi routers typically operate. These devices exhibit well‑defined absorption dips and voltage peaks of up to approximately 2.5 V in the 2.4–2.7 GHz range. To verify their practical applicability, the angular dependence of both resonance and harvested power is systematically characterised, highlighting strategies such as double‑sided configurations that maintain robust performance under oblique incidence.

Finally, we outline a hybrid microwave–solar energy‑harvesting platform that combines metasurface‑based RF harvesters with commercial photovoltaic modules to form multi‑source systems for powering low‑consumption electronics and IoT nodes in smart‑building and smart‑city environments. Our results indicate that eco‑friendly alternatives to conventional PCB processing can be efficiently used in next‑generation RF and hybrid energy‑harvesting applications.

Subject Matter Level: Intermediate - Assumes basic knowledge of the topic

What You Will Learn:
• 3D printing/additive manufacturing of polymeric nanostructures with multifunction properties, such as 3D printed circuits and electronics
• Energy harvesting prototypes, using existing EM radiation (e.g. GSM, FM, WiFi)
• 3D printed flexible electrodes for batteries
• Large-scale 3D photocatalytic/self-cleaning filters and devices
• Industrial scale thermoelectric devices, for potential applications in random access memory devices 

Who Should Attend:
• Researchers
• Physicists
• Engineers

About the Presenter: George Kenanakis from Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL-FORTH)

Dr. George Kenanakis is a principal Researcher at IESL-FORTH, where he joined in 2006. His main research interests range from applied physics and electromagnetism (focused on electromagnetic wave propagation in composite media, with an emphasis on metamaterials, photonic crystals, and plasmonic structures) to chemical synthesis of metal oxide thin films and nanostructures (emphasizing the photocatalysis of organic pollutants in liquid and gas phases).

He has extensive experience in the analysis of thin films, nanostructures, and metamaterial samples using microwave, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy, with an emphasis on catalysis studies, dehydration kinetics, and in situ measurements, as well as electromagnetic shielding, energy harvesting, etc.