A prototype for light-electric harvester based on light sensitive liquid crystal elastomer cantilever

Dong Zhao and Ying Liu

Energy, 2020, vol. 198, issue C

Abstract: In this paper, a prototype of a light-electric mini-generator based on light sensitive liquid crystal elastomer cantilever is proposed. Firstly, the mechanism of this light-electric mini-generator is introduced. Then the governing equation of motion of the cantilever is established considering the light induced inhomogeneous strain distribution. By means of superposition method and Duhamel integral, the closed-form expressions for the vibration deflection, induced electromotive force and energy conversion efficiency are obtained. Numerical results show that the induced electromotive force and energy conversion ratio can be tuned by adjusting the light parameters and cantilever dimensions. The maximum voltage and conversion efficiency are in proportion to the light intensity, the contraction coefficient, the second power of thermal relaxation time and light decay distance ratio, but inversely proportional to the third power of damping factor. Based on the present material parameters, a maximum voltage up to 75.8 mV with a preferable energy conversion efficiency of 9.50 × 10−3% per magnetic induction intensity and circuit resistance can be achieved, which obviously could be greatly improved with the subtler design of cantilever and circuit materials.

Keywords: Light energy; Electromagnetic; Energy conversion; Liquid crystal elastomer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:198:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220304588

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.117351

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