Fractal Mechanics of Stretchable Piezoelectrics for Mechanical Energy Harvesting

这项研究将产生可穿戴的可再生电源，将消除或减少（1）与个人/可穿戴系统中的电池处理/回收相关的废物流，以及（2）植入式电子设备中电池更换所需的外科手术。 一个强大的教育计划，紧密结合研究，将培养学生成为下一代可持续能源的领导者。 该教育计划包括：1）大量本科生参与研究，这反映了这项研究对年轻一代的强烈吸引力; 2）开发与能量收集的力学设计相关的课程; 3）对K-12，大学生和公众的强大推广活动。 这款可伸缩的机械能量采集器有望成为向公众介绍STEM领域的一个引人注目的工具，例如通过互动博物馆展示。该奖项的研究目标是将先进的工程设计原理与材料、力学和制造方面的基础研究相结合，开发个人规模的可再生能源，这将在个人/可穿戴电子产品和植入式生物医学部件的可持续发展中发挥关键作用，这两者都迅速成为全球老龄化人口快速扩张的关键支持技术。 具体的系统涉及高性能、可拉伸的机械能采集器，能够安装在几乎任何表面上（例如，玻璃、纸张、生物组织、纺织品、汽车、建筑结构）几乎任何配置（例如平面、弯曲、动态变形）和几乎任何规模（例如微观到宏观）。 在该奖项下进行的研究将开发使能技术，并优化系统，以实现指定的性能目标，如高面积覆盖率，大拉伸性和精确控制设备中的应变。

This investigation will produce wearable renewable power sources that will eliminate or reduce (1) waste streams associated with battery disposal/recycling in personal/wearable systems and (2) surgical procedures required for battery replacement in implantable electronics. A strong education program, tightly coupled to research, will train students to become next-generation leaders on sustainable energy. The education program includes 1) involvement of a large number of undergraduate students in research, which reflects the strong appeal of this research to the younger generation; 2) development of courses related to mechanics design of energy harvesting; and 3) strong outreach activities to K-12, college students, and general public. This stretchable mechanical energy harvester is expected to serve as a compelling tool for introducing the public to the STEM fields, such as through interactive museums display.The research objective of this award is to combine the advanced engineering design principles and basic research on fundamental aspects in materials, mechanics and manufacturing to develop personal-scale sources of renewable power, which will play critical roles in the sustainable growth of personal/wearable electronics and implantable biomedical components, both of which are quickly emerging as key support technologies for the rapid, global expansion of an aging population. The specific systems involve high performance, stretchable mechanical energy harvesters, capable of mounting on nearly any surface (e.g., glass, paper, biological tissues, textiles, automotives, building structures) in nearly any configuration (e.g. flat, curved, dynamically deformed) and at nearly any scale (e.g. micro to macro). Studies conducted under this award will develop enabling technologies, and optimize the system to realize the specified performance goals such as high-areal coverage, large stretchability, and precise control of strains in devices.