Dielectric elastomers: from the beginning of modern science to applications in actuators and energy harvesters

Description

The observation of electrostatical deformations of dielectrics dates back to the beginning of modern science. The transduction principle of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) was anticipated by Volta in 1776 and visualized by Röntgen in 1880 [1]. A reproduction of Röntgen’s experiment with modern materials showed that charge control prevents electromechanical instabilities in DEAs [2]. After their reinvention by Pelrine and co-workers in a landmark Science paper [3], DEAs are studied in a wide range of applications, from robotics, biomimetics, optics, to acoustics. Use of DEAs for mechanical energy scavenging to pump up electrical charges to higher potentials is the latest frontier of research in DEAs. Here DEA based designs promise very high specific energies for the conversion of mechanical into electrical energy [4]. Examples from past and recent research, ranging from very early observations of electrostatical deformations of dielectrics, to elastomer actuation and energy harvesting are used to highlight the potential of DEAs.[1] F. Carpi, S. Bauer and D. De Rossi, Volta-Röntgen artificial muscles, submitted. [2] C. Keplinger, M. Kaltenbrunner, N. Arnold, and S. Bauer, Röntgen’s electrode-free elastomer actuators without electromechanical pull-in instability, PNAS 107, 4505 (2010). [3] R. E. Pelrine, R. D. Kornbluh, Q. Pei, and J. P. Joseph, High speed electrically actuated elastomers with strain greater than 100%, Science 287, 836 (2000). [4] S. J. A. Koh, C. Keplinger, T. Li, S. Bauer and Z. Suo, Dielectric elastomer generators: How much energy can be converted, IEEE TMECH, focussed section of electroactive polymer mechatronics, submitted

Period	07 Mar 2011
Event title	SPIE 2011 Smart Structures/NDE
Event type	Conference
Location	United StatesShow on map