Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric Elastomers
Soft dielectric elastomers can quickly achieve large deformations when they are subjected to electromechanical loads. They are widely used to fabricate a number of soft functional devices. However, the functions of soft devices are limited to the failure modes of soft dielectric elastomers. In this...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/12/10/1187 |
| _version_ | 1827679120394289152 |
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| author | Lingling Chen Shengyou Yang |
| author_facet | Lingling Chen Shengyou Yang |
| author_sort | Lingling Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soft dielectric elastomers can quickly achieve large deformations when they are subjected to electromechanical loads. They are widely used to fabricate a number of soft functional devices. However, the functions of soft devices are limited to the failure modes of soft dielectric elastomers. In this paper, we use graded dielectric elastomers to produce a soft energy harvester with a strong ability of energy harvesting. Compared to the conventional energy harvester with homogeneous dielectric films, our new energy harvester is made of graded elastomers and can increase both the specific energy from 2.70 J/g to 2.93 J/g and the maximum energy from 6.3 J/g to 8.6 J/g by just using a stiffer outer radius. By optimizing the material parameters in graded dielectric films, the soft energy harvester can reach better performance, and our results can provide guidance for designing powerful energy harvesters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:23:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa11a19610544c10ac00fb6d0dec069d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:23:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa11a19610544c10ac00fb6d0dec069d2023-11-22T19:11:11ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2021-09-011210118710.3390/mi12101187Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric ElastomersLingling Chen0Shengyou Yang1Department of Engineering Mechanics, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, ChinaDepartment of Engineering Mechanics, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, ChinaSoft dielectric elastomers can quickly achieve large deformations when they are subjected to electromechanical loads. They are widely used to fabricate a number of soft functional devices. However, the functions of soft devices are limited to the failure modes of soft dielectric elastomers. In this paper, we use graded dielectric elastomers to produce a soft energy harvester with a strong ability of energy harvesting. Compared to the conventional energy harvester with homogeneous dielectric films, our new energy harvester is made of graded elastomers and can increase both the specific energy from 2.70 J/g to 2.93 J/g and the maximum energy from 6.3 J/g to 8.6 J/g by just using a stiffer outer radius. By optimizing the material parameters in graded dielectric films, the soft energy harvester can reach better performance, and our results can provide guidance for designing powerful energy harvesters.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/12/10/1187dielectric elastomerelectromechanical couplinggraded filmenergy harvestingspecific energy |
| spellingShingle | Lingling Chen Shengyou Yang Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric Elastomers Micromachines dielectric elastomer electromechanical coupling graded film energy harvesting specific energy |
| title | Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric Elastomers |
| title_full | Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric Elastomers |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric Elastomers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric Elastomers |
| title_short | Enhancing the Electromechanical Coupling in Soft Energy Harvesters by Using Graded Dielectric Elastomers |
| title_sort | enhancing the electromechanical coupling in soft energy harvesters by using graded dielectric elastomers |
| topic | dielectric elastomer electromechanical coupling graded film energy harvesting specific energy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/12/10/1187 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT linglingchen enhancingtheelectromechanicalcouplinginsoftenergyharvestersbyusinggradeddielectricelastomers AT shengyouyang enhancingtheelectromechanicalcouplinginsoftenergyharvestersbyusinggradeddielectricelastomers |