Professor, Beijing Institute of nanoenergy and nanosystems, Chinese Academic of Sciences, China.

Speech Title: The smart actuation system based on triboelectric nanogenerator
Abstract: In this study,by directly applying the output voltage from a single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to the dielectric elastomer (DE) films, we have demonstrated a novel self-powered TENG-DEA system to provide controllable and notable actuation motion. The separation motion of a Kapton film with the size of 100 cm², can induce the expansion strain of 14.5% for the DEA samples (electrode diameter of 0.6 cm). The separation distance of TENG can be used to regulate the deformation, while the system can also work stably within a velocity range from 0.1 cm s^-1 to 10 cm s^-1. The repeatability and persistence studies of this system suggest that the TENG device can provide reliable and constant driving force to DEA devices. Finally, an intelligent switch and a self-powered clamper based on the TENG-DEA are fabricated to demonstrate the application perspective of this system. The flexibility of the DE materials can also open various possible applications in the field of electronic skin or some other soft electronics devices. Together with the self-powered capability of TENG, this actuation system could also potentially be used as a self-powered soft robotic or driving element in the Micro-Electro-Mechanical System. Plenty of important and novel applications based on this working principle are expected to be explored in the near future.
Keywords: triboelectric nanogenerator, dielectric elastomer, actuator, tunable optical system