A new technique for maximizing the energy harvested using electrostrictive polymer composite

Abstract Recent trends in electromechanical conversion have demonstrated the advantages of using electrostrictive polymers for actuation or energy harvesting. At present, the investigation of using electrostrictive polymers for energy harvesting (a conversion of mechanical to electrical energy) is beginning to show potential for this application. This paper investigates the effects of different signals of electrical field E in order to develop a more in-depth understanding of the changes in electrostrictive polymers composites (EPCs) response for increased current and energy harvesting. Results relating strain and electric field provide a framework for developing energy harvesting techniques which improve the overall performance of the system. In the present paper the theory is detailed then, with the reversal of polarization in the half period by applying signals electrical field of 10 V/μm and transverse strain of 0.5% and considering a phase shift between them. The obtained power density for φ = π 2 , is 7 times higher than the one corresponding of classical techniques. The simulation results are compared with experimental ones and good agreements are found.