Electrostrictive polymer composite for energy harvesters and actuators

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (2-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Jean Cottinet ◽  
Daniel Guyomar ◽  
Benoit Guiffard ◽  
Laurent Lebrun ◽  
Chatchai Putson

Abstract Polymers have attractive properties when compared with inorganic materials: they are lightweight, inexpensive, pliable, and easily processed and manufactured. They can be configured into complex shapes and their properties can be tailored according to demand. With the rapid advances in materials used in science and technology, various substances embedded with intelligence at the molecular level are being developed. A type of electroactive polymer known as electrostrictive has shown considerable promise for a variety of applications, such as actuation with a strain thickness of 15% for an electric field of 10 V/μm. Polyurethane-based nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporating a carbon black nanopowder (C) into the polymer matrix. Electric field-induced strain measurements revealed that a loading of 1 vt% C (volume percentage of carbon black nanopowder) increased the strain level by a factor of 2.5 at a moderate field strength (10 V/μm). Moreover, another application for this material concerned the harvesting of mechanical energy, which constitutes an attractive alternative to the strict reliance on traditional batteries with limited lifetimes. For instance, an effective conversion from the mechanical-to-electric domains of 2.3 μW/cm3, under a transverse vibration level of 0.25% at 100 Hz, has been demonstrated for nylon. The final results indicated that the dielectric constant was a crucial parameter for energy harvesting.

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 2147-2165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luana Perioli ◽  
Cinzia Pagano ◽  
Maria Rachele Ceccarini

: In recent years inorganic materials are largely present in products intended for health care. Literature gives many examples of inorganic materials used in many healthcare products, mainly in pharmaceutical field. : Silver, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide, gold, mesoporous silica, hydrotalcite-like compound and nanoclays are the most common inorganic materials used in nanosized form for different applications in the health field. Generally, these materials are employed to realize formulations for systemic use, often with the aim to perform a specific targeting to the pathological site. The nanometric dimensions are often preferred to obtain the cellular internalization when the target is localized in the intracellular space. : Some materials are frequently used in topical formulations as rheological agents, adsorbents, mattifying agents, physical sunscreen (e.g. zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), and others. : Recent studies highlighted that the use of nanosized inorganic materials can represent a risk for health. The very small dimension (nanometric) until a few years ago represented a fundamental requirement; however, it is currently held responsible for the inorganic material toxicity. This aspect is very important to be considered as actually numerous inorganic materials can be found in many products available in the market, often dedicated to infants and children. These materials are used without taking into account their dimensional properties with increased risk for the user/patient. : This review deals with a deep analysis of current researches documenting the toxicity of nanometric inorganic materials especially those largely used in products available in the market.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanjun Ryu ◽  
Hyun-moon Park ◽  
Moo-Kang Kim ◽  
Bosung Kim ◽  
Hyoun Seok Myoung ◽  
...  

AbstractSelf-powered implantable devices have the potential to extend device operation time inside the body and reduce the necessity for high-risk repeated surgery. Without the technological innovation of in vivo energy harvesters driven by biomechanical energy, energy harvesters are insufficient and inconvenient to power titanium-packaged implantable medical devices. Here, we report on a commercial coin battery-sized high-performance inertia-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (I-TENG) based on body motion and gravity. We demonstrate that the enclosed five-stacked I-TENG converts mechanical energy into electricity at 4.9 μW/cm3 (root-mean-square output). In a preclinical test, we show that the device successfully harvests energy using real-time output voltage data monitored via Bluetooth and demonstrate the ability to charge a lithium-ion battery. Furthermore, we successfully integrate a cardiac pacemaker with the I-TENG, and confirm the ventricle pacing and sensing operation mode of the self-rechargeable cardiac pacemaker system. This proof-of-concept device may lead to the development of new self-rechargeable implantable medical devices.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haidong Li ◽  
Yanyan Song ◽  
Jiyun Zhang ◽  
Jiating He

The application of built-in electric field due to piezoelectric potential is one of the most efficient approaches for photo-induced charge transport and separation. However, the efficiency of converting mechanical energy...


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe E. De Benedetto ◽  
Amedeo Savino ◽  
Daniela Fico ◽  
Daniela Rizzo ◽  
Antonio Pennetta ◽  
...  

A multidisciplinary research, currently in progress at the University of Salento in collaboration with the Lecce Provincial Museum, interests different artistic expressions widespread in the Salento peninsula (South Italy). In the present study, the characterisation of organic and inorganic materials used in the oldest pictorial cycle found in the 12th century monastery Santa Maria delle Cerrate was carried out thanks to a multi-analytical approach. Previous investigations have focused on the problem of dating the frescoes mainly on the basis of the stylistic aspects and the material characterisation has been definitely underinvestigated. Chromatographic and spectrometric techniques were used: micro-Raman spectroscopy was used for recognising pigments and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection for analysing organic binders. These techniques enabled us to characterise pigments and binders. The presence of both true fresco and tempera bound pigments was assessed. Among the different pigments detected, the results relevant to the blue paints were interesting: two different blue pigments were, indeed, identified, lapis lazuli and smalt (cobalt blue glass) both unexpected. As a result, Santa Maria delle Cerrate appears to be the first known example of their use in South Italy. From a conservation point of view, moreover, the knowledge of the palette permitted to highlight the reason of observed decay of some paints: for instance, lead white was used in some panels, explaining their blackening.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Astitva Tripathi ◽  
Anil K. Bajaj

Electrostriction is a recent actuation mechanism which is being explored for a variety of new micro- and millimeter scale devices along with macroscale applications such as artificial muscles. The general characteristics of these materials and the nature of actuation lend itself to possible production of very rich nonlinear dynamic behavior. In this work, principal parametric resonance of the second mode in in-plane vibrations of appropriately designed electrostrictive plates is investigated. The plates are made of an electrostrictive polymer whose mechanical response can be approximated by Mooney Rivlin model, and the induced strain is assumed to have quadratic dependence on the applied electric field. A finite element model (FEM) formulation is used to develop mode shapes of the linearized structure whose lowest two natural frequencies are designed to be close to be in 1:2 ratio. Using these two structural modes and the complete Lagrangian, a nonlinear two-mode model of the electrostrictive plate structure is developed. Application of a harmonic electric field results in in-plane parametric oscillations. The nonlinear response of the structure is studied using averaging on the two-mode model. The structure exhibits 1:2 internal resonance and large amplitude vibrations through the route of parametric excitation. The principal parametric resonance of the second mode is investigated in detail, and the time response of the averaged system is also computed at few frequencies to demonstrate stability of branches. Some results for the case of principal parametric resonance of the first mode are also presented.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Anindya Nag ◽  
Roy B. V. B. Simorangkir ◽  
Samta Sapra ◽  
John L. Buckley ◽  
Brendan O'Flynn ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Catalin Zaharia

Currently, the active materials used for the fabrication of solar cells are mainly inorganic. Materials such as silicon (Si), gallium-arsenide (GaAs), cadmium-telluride (CdTe), and cadmium-indium-selenide (CIS). Nevertheless, the large production cost for the silicon solar cells is one of the major drawback in this field. This chapter is dedicated to a critical presentation of another type of photovoltaics, called polymer, or plastic, solar cell technology. Polymer solar cells have attracted significant attention in the past few years due to their potential of providing environmentally safe, lightweight, flexible, and efficient solar cells.


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