Current wireless charging uses induction to charge through a special case adapted to the device and a charging base connected to an electrical socket. When the device is placed on top of the base, this generates a magnetic field which induces an electric current inside the case and, without the need of using any cables, the device is charged. If the device is separated from the base, the energy is not transferred efficiently enough and the battery cannot be charged.
The system created by the researchers overcomes these limitations. It is made up of metamaterials which combine layers of ferromagnetic materials, such as iron compounds, and conductor materials such as copper. The metamaterials cover the emitter and receiver and enable transferring energy between the two, allowing a tradeoff of higher efficiency for a longer distance. With the use of metamaterial crowns researchers were able in the lab to increase the transmission efficiency 35-fold. "There is much more room for improvement, since theoretically the efficiency can be increased even more if conditions and the design of the experiment are perfected," said Àlvar Sánchez, director of the research.
"Enveloping the two circuits with metamaterial shells has the same effect as bringing them close together; it's as if the space between them literally disappears", said Jordi Prat, lead author of the paper.
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