Manufacture and Experimental Investigation of a Multi-Layer Generator Based on Dielectric Elastomer

Abstract:

As a member of Electroactive Polymers (EAPs), dielectric elastomer (DE) has shown considerable potential for energy harvesting applications. After the basic principle of DE energy harvesting is studied, a multi-layer DE generator using VHB 4910 (3M, USA) is specially designed and fabricated. Then, an improved energy harvesting circuit is designed to make use of harvested electrical energy. Finally, energy harvesting experiments are implemented under the constant charge (open-circuit) condition and the results prove that the multi-layer DE generator fabricated can produce enough energy to constantly drive a light emitting diode. The harvested electrical energy has good consistent with generated electrical energy and the maximum energy harvesting efficiency ηh can reach 89%.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 960-961)
• Pages: 1336-1341
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.960-961.1336
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Xue Jing Liu, Gong Zhang, Yong Quan Wang, Shu Hai Jia
• Keywords: Dielectric Elastomer, Generator, Harvesting Circuit, Multilayer

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