Accurate design of deep sub-wavelength metamaterials for wireless power transfer enhancement

Deep sub-wavelength metamaterials for a wireless power transfer system (WPT) is still a challenge in design and optimization. We propose a large capacitor spiral metamaterial (LCSM) which involves inherent advantages of low operating frequencies and compact structures. The ratio of electromagnetic wavelength to the metamaterial scale can easily reach 1000 at the operation frequency of several megahertz. A hybrid search method, which combines a modified simulated annealing algorithm and a differential evolution algorithm, is applied to the accurate and automatic design of LCSM. The permeability of LCSM is evaluated by finite element analysis and then verified by experimental results. Finally, a small-size WPT system working at 6.78MHz was constructed to evaluate LCSM. The results show that LCSM can enhance the transfer efficiency of the WPT system from 5.54% to 22.40% at a transmission distance of 15 cm. © 2018, Electromagnetics Academy. All rights reserved.