Mechanical energy harvesting via a plasticizer-modified electrostrictive polymer

A plasticizer-modified electrostrictive terpolymer with improved electromechanical properties was investigated for mechanical energy harvesting via a pseudo-piezoelectric cycle. Experimental results indicate that the modified terpolymer exhibited improved energy harvesting performances in contrast with the pure terpolymer. A maximum generated short-circuit current of 3.635 mu A (much higher than the leakage current) and a power density of 607 mu W/cm(3) were observed for modified terpolymer. Based on the quadric relationship between the energy conversion efficiency and the DC bias electric field, an energy conversion efficiency as high as 34% and a corresponding electrical power density of 4.31 mW/cm(3) could be achieved for the modified terpolymer working at a DC bias electric field of 30 MV/m. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.