Triple-band and polarization-insensitive rectifying metasurface with flexible substrate

Abstract A flexible triple-band and polarization-insensitive rectifying metasurface (RMS) is presented in this article. The surface consists of three parts: a periodic metal unit with integrated diodes, a DC filter composed of series inductor and parallel capacitor, and a load resistor. Due to the direct integration of rectifying diodes and interconnected branches within and between the units, complex matching networks can be eliminated and the overall structure is simplified. A 6 × 6 array is fabricated and measured. The results show that at a low input power of 0 dBm, the RMS has efficiency of 51.81%, 44.25%, and 42.01% at 2.9 GHz, 5.2 GHz, and 5.77 GHz, respectively. The efficiency remains consistent under different polarization angles, demonstrating the polarization insensitivity property of RMS. Additionally, the flexible substrate enables high efficiency in the S-band and Wi-Fi bands even under a certain range of bending, revealing its superior flexibility and adaptability. Therefore, it is well suited for ambient energy harvesting and wireless self-powered miniaturized internet of things devices.