THERMEFLEX: THERMALLY MEDIATED FLEXOELECTRICITY

Author/​Artist
Format
Senior thesis
Language
English
Description
84 pages

Availability

Available Online

Copies in the Library

Location Call Number Status Location Service Notes
Mudd Manuscript Library - StacksAC102 Browse related items On-site accessReading Room Request

    Details

    Advisor(s)
    McAlpine, Michael [Browse]
    Department
    Princeton University. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering [Browse]
    Class year
    2013
    Restrictions note
    Walk-in Access. This thesis can only be viewed on computer terminals at the Mudd Manuscript Library.
    Summary note
    This thesis project was successful in thermally mediated the flexoelectric effect by using a bilayer material device made up of single crystalline Strontium titanate (STO) and titanium (Ti) 10x5x0.5mm substrates connected with conductive epoxy. Heating the device with a 100 second period sine wave between -20° and 100° Celsius generated outputs from 20pA up to 100pA. Polishing allowed for device thickness variations from 1000 microns down to 400 microns. Finite Element Analysis approximations of our device deflection corresponded to within an order of magnitude to deflection measurements; however, no trend was observed concerning device thickness variation and flexoelectric output, likely due to device fabrication complications. Two separate theoretical models were developed to predict the device deflection and thus output from first principles, however both of these models failed to predict results accurately. In summary, this thesis project successfully proves the existence of thermally mediated flexoelectricity, for which the calculated efficiency was 5.8e-15. Although not likely applicable for energy harvesting at larger length scales, such an effect could be used as thermal sensor.
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    Supplementary Information