Flexible Electro-Active Materials

*1 - Project description: The objective is to develop flexible aeroelectric micro-generators which will contribute to power wireless sensors networks. Piezoelectric (N-air-J project 2014-2018) and flexoelectric thin films are developed in parallel studies to convert mechanical energy of smooth airflows into electricity. Their high flexibility combined with a large shape factor (micron-sized thickness and millimeter –sized area) allows working at very low frequency range (@ 1 Hz). *2 -Technology / status: Flexible piezoelectric PZT and flexoelectric PU thin films are developed by chemical processes allowing a rapid transfer to the industry (2 patents). *3 - Collaboration: University of Nantes (IETR, GeM) – INSA Lyon (LGEF) – IFSTTAR - Alent - Nanyang Tecnological University of Singapore Financial support: Region Pays de la Loire, RFI WISE *4 – Perspective: - Energy harvesting from other ambient energy sources (wave energy, body motion, …) - Smart sensors (biomedical, buildings, health care, IOT, smart cities) - Actuators showing high displacements (centimeter range)