A highly efficient CMOS rectifier assisted by symmetric PV cells was developed as an example of possible realization of the synergistic ambient energy harvesting concept. In addition, output-voltage-boosted PV cell structures were found to effectively improve the efficiency of this rectifier. As a result, under typical indoor lighting conditions, 30% power conversion efficiency was achieved at -20 dBm of 920 MHz RF input and 100 kΩ loading condition, efficiency 4 times larger than a conventional rectifier without PV assistance. © 2013 IEEE.