Researchers at Xidian University in China have developed a “smart surface” capable of converting electromagnetic waves into usable electricity, a breakthrough that could revolution electronic warfare and next-generation 6G wireless communication. According to the team, the innovation integrates wireless information transfer with energy harvesting, potentially allowing future stealth aircraft to use radar beams as a source of both power and communication.
The system, described in a peer-reviewed paper in National Science Review, incorporates what the researchers call “electromagnetic cooperative stealth,” where multiple platforms work together to reduce visibility to radar and electromagnetic sensors. By merging sensing, communication, and energy harvesting into a single hardware platform, the technology could also improve security for the Internet of Things, reduce interference, and prevent eavesdropping.
At the core of the innovation is a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), a two-dimensional structure with numerous controllable elements that manipulate wireless signals to extend coverage, improve signal strength, and enable line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight communication. The technology could have applications ranging from unmanned aerial vehicle communication and anti-jamming systems to satellite-to-ground data transmission.
The research team highlighted that the RIS platform could be self-powered, harvesting ambient electromagnetic energy to operate itself or charge other devices. They emphasized its low cost, programmability, and multifunctionality, which make it suitable for wide deployment in next-generation networks and advanced military systems.
Experts suggest that integrating electromagnetic control for both scattered and radiated waves on a single platform could enable environment-adaptive communication, micro base stations, relay systems, and self-powered sensing networks. The team believes that these advances could accelerate China’s development of 6G technology, potentially giving the country an edge over competitors in the United States and Europe.
“This technology achieves significant savings in space and cost while ensuring multifunctionality across diverse scenarios,” the researchers said, noting that it may ultimately enable intelligent stealth systems, advanced 6G networks, and a new class of self-sustaining electronic devices.
