On the energy conversion and efficiency of a dielectric electroactive polymer generator
Abstract
Dielectric electroactive polymers are studied for their energy generating ability based on a variable capacitance mechanism. Energy conversion for one cycle is analyzed by considering the energy loss in the charging process, where generated energy is defined as the difference between output and total input electrical energy. Experiments are conducted under two charging modes and different stretch rates to investigate their effect on the energy conversion. Energy conversion efficiency of up to 18.3% is achieved with charging-while-stretching mode and a low stretch rate, with an energy density of 18.9 mJ/g and power of 3.775 mW/g per cycle obtained.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- July 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.4737439
- Bibcode:
- 2012ApPhL.101c3904W
- Keywords:
-
- dielectric devices;
- dielectric materials;
- electric generators;
- energy conservation;
- polymers;
- 85.50.-n;
- Dielectric ferroelectric and piezoelectric devices