Development and prospects of metamaterial in wireless power transfer

Abstract As a unique group of advanced artificial materials, metamaterials have found many interesting applications in various devices due to the ability to control electromagnetic fields. The metamaterial provides the prospect of new opportunities for the wireless power transfer (WPT) system to improve efficiency and reduce magnetic flux density. This review paper evaluates the performance of the WPT system with metamaterial from both principles and functions aspects. The objectives of this review include: (1) to present the research process and bottlenecks of metamaterial in the WPT system; (2) to clarify the design solution and checking method of the metamaterial and (3) to identify the challenges and opportunities based on the functional of the WPT system integration with metamaterial. Therefore, the process on metamaterial design, working principle of metamaterial, optimal method, equivalent model, and experimental method are reviewed. The recent efforts of the WPT system with metamaterial in efficiency enhancement, misalignments, magnetic field reduction are illustrated. Finally, the challenges and prospects of metamaterial based on the WPT system are concluded.