Advances for dielectric elastomer generators: Replacement of high voltage supply by electret

Dielectric generators require an external circuit with a high bias voltage source to polarize them. To drastically reduce this circuit and to avoid external polarization, we propose here original transducers combining electrets and dielectric elastomer. Two operating modes have been studied and electromechanical analytical models have been developed from the combination of electrets theory and dielectric model. These concepts are applied on e-textile application: scavenging energy during human motion. An energy density around 6 mJ g(-1) is expected on an optimal load of 10 M Omega. More generally, the flexibility, the lightness, the absence of high-voltage supply open many fields of applications beyond e-textiles. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4761949]