A Wideband Dual-Function Solar Cell Dipole Antenna for Both Energy Harvesting and Wireless Communications

A dual-function solar cell antenna is presented for wideband communication and optical energy harvesting. In the proposed design, four solar cells have been adopted as antenna and energy harvesting array for both wireless communication and optical energy harvesting simultaneously. The radiation performances of the proposed solar cell antenna are measured and the optical experiment is conducted to verify its abilities of optical energy harvesting. To clarify the effects of solar cells on the antenna performance, another copper antenna with the same structure is fabricated for comparison. The proposed technology can integrate wireless communication and green battery components, makes it promising for green communication, clean energy, and environmental protection.