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Dielectric elastomers: Stretching the capabilities of energy harvesting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2012

Roy D. Kornbluh ,
Ron Pelrine ,
Harsha Prahlad ,
Annjoe Wong-Foy ,
Brian McCoy ,
Susan Kim ,
Joseph Eckerle  and
Tom Low
Roy D. Kornbluh
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; roy.kornbluh@sri.com
Ron Pelrine
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; ron.pelrine@sri.com
Harsha Prahlad
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; harsha.prahlad@sri.com
Annjoe Wong-Foy
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; annjoe.wong-foy@sri.com
Brian McCoy
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; brian.mccoy@sri.com
Susan Kim
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; susan.kim@sri.com
Joseph Eckerle
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; joseph.eckerle@sri.com
Tom Low
Affiliation:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; thomas.low@sri.com
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Abstract

Stretchable electronics can go beyond what might commonly be considered “electronics.” They can exploit their inherent elasticity to enable new types of transducers that convert between electrical energy and mechanical energy. Dielectric elastomer actuators are “stretchable capacitors” that can offer muscle-like strain and force response to an applied voltage. As generators, dielectric elastomers offer the promise of energy harvesting with few moving parts. Power can be produced simply by stretching and contracting a relatively low-cost rubbery material. This simplicity, combined with demonstrated high energy density and high efficiency, suggests that dielectric elastomers are promising for a wide range of energy-harvesting applications. Indeed, dielectric elastomers have been demonstrated to harvest energy from human walking, ocean waves, flowing water, blowing wind, pushing buttons, and heat engines. While the technology is promising and advances are being made, there are challenges that must be addressed if dielectric elastomers are to be a successful and economically viable energy-harvesting technology. These challenges include developing materials and packaging that sustain a long lifetime over a range of environmental conditions, designing the devices that stretch the elastomer material uniformly, and system issues such as practical and efficient energy-harvesting circuits.

Keywords

polymerdielectricenergy generationelastic properties
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 37 , Issue 3: Materials for stretchable electronics , March 2012 , pp. 246 - 253
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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