Host: University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Co-supervisor/mentors: V. Cirimele (UniBo, IT), A. Babaki & R. Maheshwari (SDU, DK), N.C. Sebastian (RFI, IT)
Required profile: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Communication Engineering, Mechatronics, Applied Physics, or equivalent.
Desirable skills/interests: Simulation engineering and modelling; Electrical and electronic engineering; Embedded systems; Control engineering; Mathematical physics.
Objectives: Design of reconfigurable GaN-HEMT-based circuits for bidirectional wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, exploiting the time-reversal duality between oscillators and synchronous rectifiers to achieve comparable efficiency in power generation and rectification modes. The DC will target MHz-range operation and will include the development of accurate empirical models for nonlinear FET-like devices, with particular focus on third-quadrant I–V characterization to predict operation under negative drain–source voltages. Analytical and nonlinear CAD-based design methodologies for bidirectional WPT systems will be developed, followed by the implementation and experimental validation of the most promising circuit topologies, assessing key performance metrics such as conversion efficiency in both operating regimes.
Project: Nonlinear modeling and optimization of reconfigurable GaN-HEMT oscillator–rectifier circuits for bidirectional wireless power transfer(WP2)
