An adaptive prototype design to maximize power harvesting using electrostrictive polymers

Abstract

The harvesting energy with electrostrictive polymers has great potential for remote applications such as invivo sensors, embedded micro-electro-mechanical systems devices, and distributed network instruments. A majority of current research activities in this field refers to classical piezoelectric ceramics, but electrostrictive polymers offer promise of energy harvesting with few moving parts; power can be produced by simply stretching and contracting a relatively low-cost rubbery material. The use of such polymers for energy harvesting is a growing field, which has great potential from an energy density viewpoint. The output power is inversely proportional to the harvester's frequency bandwidth. Consequently, it is much harder to efficiently harvest power from low-frequency sources with a large frequency band response and with a very small system size than from a stabilized high-frequency vibration source. This paper presents a new structure that is able to predict mechanical frequency excitation in order to increase power-harvesting capabilities of electrostrictive polymers. An equivalent structure scheme has been developed by using current and electrical schemes models. With a transverse strain of 0.5% and a bias field of 10 V/μm, such a process rendered it possible to increase the converted power by 80% with a low-frequency mechanical excitation. This study contributes to provide a framework for developing an innovative energy-harvesting technology that collects vibrations from the environment and converts them into electricity to power a variety of sensors.

Improvement in energy conversion of electrostrictive composite materials by new approach via piezoelectric effect: Modeling and experiments

“…It has been shown in previous work 18 that it was possible to neglect the leakage resistance R p . The dynamic model of the current, thus simplified by:…”

“…15,16 At the current time, the category of electroactive material known as electrostrictive polymer has shown great potential for a variety of advanced applications 5,17 and maybe well appropriate for harvesting energy from vibration sources. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] However, the electromechanical conversion efficiency increasing of electrostrictive polymer is reduced by the high value of polarization power. 21 To address this problem, many studies have been conducted on electrostrictive polymers to predict their energy recovery abilities.…”

“…They are usually used as actuators for artificial muscles, in robotics or mechatronics 15,16 . At the current time, the category of electroactive material known as electrostrictive polymer has shown great potential for a variety of advanced applications 5,17 and maybe well appropriate for harvesting energy from vibration sources 18‐25 . However, the electromechanical conversion efficiency increasing of electrostrictive polymer is reduced by the high value of polarization power 21 .…”

Elaboration and characterization of BZT lead-free ceramic prepared in chemical way and with the addition of a sintering aid (LBCU)

“…There are also several research works on their use for energy harvesting [1][2][3][4]. Currently, the most used piezoelectric materials are ceramics and most of these ceramics are lead-based (PZT, PMN-PT …) because of the high properties (density, d33, k33, Qm) attributed to the presence of lead in the structure of these ceramics.…”

Strain effects on an electrostrictive polymer composite for power harvesting: experiments and modeling

“…Electrostrictive polymers are a novel class of electro‐active polymers (EAPs) that recently became the object of considerable research efforts because of their actuation properties . The newest studies demonstrate the possibility of harvesting mechanical energy using these particular materials . In general, EAPs exhibit significant advantages compared to piezoelectric ceramics; they are lightweight, flexible and low‐cost and have a good processability and low mechanical impedance.…”