Fatigue-resistant elastomers with integrated electrodes for modular self-sensing DEGs and DFGs

The project aims to develop fatigue-resistant novel self-sensing elastomers with integrated compliant electrodes that will be used for modular metamaterial-based Dielectric Elastomer Generators (DEGs) and Dielectric Fluid Generators (DFGs).

Dielectric Elastomers (DE) and compliant electrodes are essential ingredients in DEGs while the similar elastomers and flexible electrodes are required for confining Dielectric Fluids (DF) in the DFG-based flexible Wave Energy Converters.

Flexible elastomers and electrodes for the Direction Generation Wave Energy Technologies experience millions of repeated cycles during their service life which deteriorate their performances and the adhesions between electrodes and DEs/DFs over time/wave cycles.

Moreover, DE materials must have high dielectric constants resulting in higher energy scavenging and self-sensing capabilities for structural health-monitoring and for the development of control systems for the DEG and DFG-based Direct Generators.

However, the existing DEs have low dielectric permittivity and limited fatigue life while corresponding compliant electrodes have reduced conductivity and lack of adhesion with the base(bulk) materials.

In this project, 2D conductive fillers will be used in achieving superior dielectric materials with extremely high dielectric permittivity and in making superior electrodes thanks to their outstanding capacitance and excellent conductivity.

Furthermore, fatigue-resistant elastomers will be created by the combination of soft elastomers as the matrix and hard elastomers as the tougheners.

All the novel materials developed here will be followed by rigorous experimental characterizations using multi-axial test rigs purposely built for the Wave Energy applications at Swansea University (SU).