Zafar Abas

Recent Progress on Cellulose-Based Electro-Active Paper, Its Hybrid Nanocomposites and Applications

We report on the recent progress and development of research into cellulose-based electro-active paper for bending actuators, bioelectronics devices, and electromechanical transducers. The cellulose electro-active paper is characterized in terms of its biodegradability, chirality, ample chemically modifying capacity, light weight, actuation capability, and ability to form hybrid nanocomposites. The mechanical, electrical, and chemical characterizations of the cellulose-based electro-active paper and its hybrid composites such as blends or coatings with synthetic polymers, biopolymers, carbon nanotubes, chitosan, and metal oxides, are explained. In addition, the integration of cellulose electro-active paper is highlighted to form various functional devices including but not limited to bending actuators, flexible speaker, strain sensors, energy harvesting transducers, biosensors, chemical sensors and transistors for electronic applications. The frontiers in cellulose paper devices are reviewed together with the strategies and perspectives of cellulose electro-active paper and cellulose nanocomposite research and applications.

Electrode effects of a cellulose-based electro-active paper energy harvester

The possibility of cellulose-based electro-active paper (EAPap) as a vibrational energy transducer was investigated in this paper. Thin cellulose EAPap film specimens were prepared by the regenerating process. Three different metal electrodes of gold, silver and aluminum were deposited on a 50 ? 50?mm2 cellulose film using a thermal evaporator. An aluminum cantilever beam was used as a vibrational bender and EAPap was attached close to the root of the cantilever beam. The voltage output of the EAPap was measured under harmonic base excitation of the cantilever beam. The EAPap with aluminum electrode provided the largest open circuit voltage output compared to those with gold or silver electrodes. The output voltages of the EAPap increased linearly with increase of the area of the electrodes. The output voltages also increased with increasing input acceleration but became saturated at a certain magnitude. From the experimental results, we conclude that EAPap with metal electrodes can be used as a flexible energy harvesting transducer by external mechanical stress, and the output voltage is related to the electrode material due to its work function.

Characterization of Electro-Active Paper Vibration Sensor by Impact Testing and Random Excitation

We characterized a vibration sensor made of piezoelectric paper by measuring the frequency response function of an aluminum cantilever that was subjected to impulse loading and random excitation. The dynamic characteristics of the device were measured by recording the transient response of the smart cantilever beam with a pair of electro-active paper (EAPap) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensors located at a 5 mm distance from the clamped end as well as from a second pair of piezoelectric sensors located at a distance of 140 mm. The responses were measured by impacting the cantilever at its tip and at its mid-point. A fast Fourier transform was applied on the time domain data to measure the resonant frequencies of the vibrating structure. Both the EAPap and the PVDF sensors were observed to be very sensitive to varying levels of dynamic strain. The EAPap sensor showed a low strain sensitivity that was found to be desirable due to the inherent piezoelectricity and eco-friendly behavior of the material. The results revealed that the dynamic sensing ability of the EAPap at a low frequency range was quite comparable to that of PVDF when monitoring structural vibrations. The frequency response function was also measured via random excitation, piezoelectricity of the EAPap sensor shows potential for sensing vibrations with a dynamic response.

Cellulose Electro-Active Paper: From Discovery to Technology Applications

Cellulose electro-active paper (EAPap) is an attractive material of electro-active polymers (EAPs) family due to its smart characteristics. EAPap is thin cellulose film coated with metal electrodes on both sides. Its large displacement output, low actuation voltage and low power consumption can be used for biomimetic sensors/actuators and electromechanical system. Because cellulose EAPap is ultra-lightweight, easy to manufacture, inexpensive, biocompatible, and biodegradable, it has been employed for many applications such as bending actuator, vibration sensor, artificial muscle, flexible speaker, and can be advantageous in areas such as micro-insect robots, micro-flying objects, microelectromechanical systems, biosensors, and flexible displays.

Finite element analysis of vibration- driven electro-active paper energy harvester with experimental verification

In this research work, a coupled-field finite element model of electro-active paper energy harvester is presented, and the results are verified experimentally. Electro-active paper is a smart form of cellulose coated with electrodes on both sides. A finite element model was developed, and harmonic and transient analyses were performed using a commercial finite element analysis package. Two 80 mm × 50 mm and 100 mm × 50 mm aluminum cantilever benders bonded with electro-active paper were tested to validate the finite element model results. Displacement and voltage generated by the energy harvester at the electrode surfaces were measured. The electro-active paper energy harvesters were excited at their fundamental resonance frequencies by a sinusoidal force located 18 mm from the free end. The voltage obtained from the 80 mm × 50 mm and 100 mm × 50 mm electro-active paper energy harvester finite element model was 3.7 and 7 mV, respectively. Experimental results have shown good agreement with the finite element model. The direct piezoelectric effect of electro-active paper shows potential for a cellulose-based eco-friendly energy harvester.

Experimental and numerical study of cellulose-based electro-active paper energy harvester

In this present study experimental and finite element analysis of cellulose based electro-active paper energy harvester is presented. Electro-active paper coated with metal electrode is a smart form of cellulose and exhibit piezoelectric effect. Specimens were prepared by depositing electrodes on both sides of the cellulose film. A 50 mm x 50 mm cellulose film coated with aluminum electrodes was bonded on 100 mm x 50 mm x 1 mm aluminum host structure. The voltage output to input acceleration frequency response across a load resistor of 1 MΩ is recorded by conventional energy harvesting experimental setup at the fundamental vibration mode of the EAPap cantilever beam. A coupled piezoelectric-circuit finite element model is developed in which load resistor is directly connected to energy scavenging device. Voltage output FRF is measured for the cases, without proof mass, and by adding a 2 grams proof mass near the tip of the cantilever. The experimental voltage FRF value is 7.6 V/g at 75.1 Hz and is improved to 13.8 V/g at 62.2 Hz when a stainless steel proof mass of 2 grams is added. The presented CPC-FEM model results agree reasonably well with the experimental results. Despite the fact that the electro-mechanical coupling coefficient of electro-active paper is lower than other available piezoelectric materials, it is biocompatible, cheap and naturally occurring polymeric material. It is also very flexible and posses similar piezoelectric characteristics such a PVDF which inspire to use EAPap in energy harvesting applications.

Electrode effect on the cellulose piezo-paper energy harvester

In the recent times, cellulose-based Electro-Active Paper (EAPap) has been investigated to have electro-mechanical coupling and piezoelectric effects which are promising characteristics for a smart material. In this paper, the effects of electrodes of EAPap are investigated for vibration energy harvesting. Although piezopolymers have smaller value of electro-mechanical coupling constants as compared to the piezoceramics, but are very flexible, which motivates to use these materials as potential media for flexible energy harvesting. Cellulose based Electro-active papers are deposited with different metal electrodes like aluminum, gold and silver. The fabricated samples are tested with aluminum cantilever beam under an input excitation. The effects of area of electrodes are also investigated by comparing the output voltage at the different area of electrodes ranging from 400mm2 to 1200mm2. EAPap cantilever are tested at lowest resonant frequency and under varying acceleration amplitude to maximize the output voltage. From the experimental results, it is concluded that the potential of EAPap as a flexible energy harvester are very promising.