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A Soft Variable-Area Electrical-Double-Layer Energy Harvester

delete2021-08-31
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PRE
AI
V
Veenasri Vallem
E
Erin Roosa
T
Tyler Ledinh
W
Woojin Jung
T
Tae‐il Kim
S
Sahar Rashid‐Nadimi
A
Abolfazl Kiani
M
Michael D. Dickey *
DOI:10.1002/adma.202103142delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
The technological promise of soft devices-wearable electronics, implantables, soft robotics, sensors-has accelerated the demand for deformable energy sources. Devices that can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy can enable self-powered, tetherless, and sustainable devices. This work presents a completely soft and stretchable (>400% strain) energy harvester based on variable-area electrical-double-layer (EDL) capacitors (approximate to 40 mu F cm(-2)). Mechanically varying the EDL area, and thus the capacitance, disrupts equilibrium and generates a driving force for charge movement through an external circuit. Prior EDL capacitors varied the contact area by depressing water droplets between rigid electrodes. In contrast, here, the harvester consists of liquid-metal electrodes encased in a hydrogel. Deforming the device by approximate to 25% strain generates a power density approximate to 0.5 mW m(-2). This unconventional approach is attractive because: (1) it does not need an external voltage supply to provide charge; (2) the electrodes themselves deform; and (3) it can work under various modes of deformation such as pressing, stretching, bending, and twisting. The unique ability of the harvester to operate underwater shows promising applications in wearables that contact sweat, underwater sensing, and blue energy harvesting.
Keywords:
energy harvesting
energy storage
liquid metals
soft robotics
stretchable electronics

Journal

Advanced Materials cover
Advanced Materials
IF:
26.8
Papers:
3.4W
Citations:
46.0W

Organization

S
sungkyunkwan university (skku)
Scholars:
3.7W
Papers: 3.6W
Citations: 49
N
North Carolina State University
Scholars:
2.6W
Papers: 2.3W
Citations: 3.7W