Comparison of the Performance of L and Pi Matching Networks for Design of a 2.4 GHz RF-DC Rectifier for RF Energy Harvesting

In the research for sustainable energy, scientists are increasingly focusing on radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting as a promising avenue which is an eco-friendly emerging technology that enables the low power wireless devices to be self-sustained by eliminating the need for batteries. In the design of RF energy harvesting system, impedance matching network plays a vital role in maximizing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the RF-DC rectifier. Various topologies in the matching network, with a majority emphasis on L-shape and Pi-shape configurations, are explored to optimize system performance. This paper presents a comparative analysis of L-shape and Pi-shape matching networks for RF energy harvesting applications through simulations. Key metrics such as S parameters, output DC voltage, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) are evaluated. Results reveal that the L-shape matching network attains a maximum PCE of 47% within an input power range of -40 dBm to 20 dBm when connected to a load resistance of lKΩ. Conversely, the Pi-shape matching network exhibits enhanced performance with a PCE of 66.4 % under identical conditions of load resistance and input power range. These findings highlight the importance of matching network topology selection in enhancing the efficiency of RF energy harvesting systems.