EH-WSNs are a reliable choice for contemporary wireless communication applications [8] since they can be made more secure and operationally efficient by incorporating CR and PLS. Sensor nodes in EH-WSNs are built to absorb and transform ambient energy from their surroundings into electrical power [9; 15], allowing for perpetual operation. One can take advantage of solar, thermal, vibrational, and RF energy, among other energy sources. Solar EH is dependable and useful in a variety of outdoor applications and it is arguably the most studied nowadays [16; 17]. Nevertheless, the use of ambient sources of energy such as kinetic or thermal are increasingly making it possible to support large deployment and varied sets of sensing applications. Both the processing and management of the harvested energy are mostly what drives EH-WSN research [18]. The amount of energy that can be harvested is often unpredictable and variable; thus, energy management solutions are needed for ensuring the best functioning of sensor nodes [19]. To ensure that the network continues to function even in situations wherein energy is scarce, sophisticated energy allocation algorithms [20], dynamic power management strategies [9], and intelligent scheduling mechanisms [21] are required to balance energy use with the availability of captured energy. In addition, the appearance of CR-WSNs has refreshed our view about spectrum management and power conservation. Dynamic access to the available spectrum bands by CR-WSNs improves communication efficiency and reduces interference for sensor nodes. Nevertheless, the higher energy consumption of nodes resulting from this added functionality reinforces the importance of suitable EH solutions. Another significant problem that EH-WSNs must address is security [22], given their increasing integration within critical infrastructure and other sensitive applications. They are computationally expensive, hence not feasible in energy-limited systems like IoT. Among various secure communication approaches in EH-WSNs, PLS has been found to be more suitable with low-power consumption within this context. Without depending on upper-layer encryption algorithms, PLS uses the natural characteristics of the communication channel [23], such as noise and interference, to secure data transfer. But integrating PLS into EH-WSNs comes with its own set of difficulties, especially when eavesdroppers and hostile attacks are involved [6]. In EH-WSNs, the development of multi-hop and multi-path routing protocols is also essential for improving network performance and resilience [24]. These protocols are intended to increase network longevity, reduce energy consumption, and prevent eavesdropping. Sensor nodes can cooperate to enhance data transmission and energy usage by utilizing cooperative communication strategies [25]. However, there are still difficulties in creating protocols that can adjust to changing network circumstances and guarantee reliable operation in a range of attack scenarios. Visualizing the underlying architecture and fundamental components of EH-WSNs is crucial, especially considering the variety and complexity of energy harvesting approaches [26; 27]. PLS approaches use the intrinsic randomness of the wireless channel [28] to shield data from interference and eavesdropping without the need for intricate encryption algorithms. For EH-WSNs, where energy efficiency is a crucial factor, PLS is hence the perfect answer. Using expensive encryption methods or typical public-key cryptography can quickly deplete the energy resources of sensor nodes in EH-WSNs [29], which frequently have limited computational power and battery capacity. PLS, on the other hand, acts at the physical layer and uses the oscillations in wireless channels--such as fading, interference, and noise--to generate secure communication lines. By using techniques like artificial noise and beamforming, PLS can prevent eavesdroppers from decoding the transmitted information [30], even if they have access to the same channel.