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A Flexible Bilayer Actuator Based on Liquid Crystal Network and PVDF–TrFE for Low‐Grade Waste Heat Harvesting
Author(s) -
Han Ying,
Jiang Chunli,
Fu Hanmei,
Luo Chunhua,
Lin Hechun,
Peng Hui
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.202000612
Subject(s) - materials science , piezoelectricity , actuator , energy harvesting , pyroelectricity , voltage , bilayer , waste heat , thermal , optoelectronics , liquid crystal , work (physics) , generator (circuit theory) , waste heat recovery unit , composite material , mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , ferroelectricity , membrane , thermodynamics , power (physics) , chemistry , biochemistry , physics , heat exchanger , dielectric , engineering
Flexible low‐grade waste heat generators are a promising device that can both recycle thermal energy and exhibit elasticity, are light weight, and have easily customized shapes. However, most thermal energy recovery technologies only work at large temperature gradients. Herein, a dynamic generator based on liquid crystal network (LCN) and poly(vinylidenedifluoride–trifluoroethylene) (PVDF–TrFE) is reported. The generator can operate in a temperature of ≈30 °C with a temperature difference of 6 K. LCN expands and shrinks in the temperature fluctuation, which is beneficial for PVDF–TrFE exposure to greater temperature changes. The device is found to exhibit a maximum output voltage of ≈4.5 mV based on pyroelectric and piezoelectric effect. This simple strategy may broaden applications of liquid crystalline actuators for harvesting low‐grade waste heat.