Halogen-Based Elastomer Dielectric Material for Self-Healing Electronic Skins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stretchable dielectric materials for electronic-skins and soft robots face challenges such as high operating voltages, high frequencies leading to noise, and limited lifetimes due to mechanical and electrical damage, with none of the existing stretchable ACPEL devices demonstrating self-healing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A halogen-based elastomer or polymer mixed with a halogen-based surfactant to create a self-healing dielectric material with enhanced dielectric constant and electro-mechanical properties, allowing for operation at lower voltages and frequencies, and enabling self-healing of mechanical damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional stretchable dielectric materials are used for electronic-skins and soft robots, then the devices can be fabricated with basic functionality, but they require high operating voltages (100 V-1 kV) and high frequencies (kHz range) which cause noise and limit portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dielectric properties of the material by incorporating high-dielectric-constant particles (BaTiO3, SrTiO3, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3) into the elastomer matrix. This parameter change allows the device to operate at lower voltages and frequencies while maintaining or improving luminance performance, thereby eliminating the harmful high-pitched whining sound associated with conventional high-frequency operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite dielectric material combining elastomer matrix with high-dielectric-constant ceramic particles. This composite structure enables the material to exhibit both the mechanical flexibility needed for stretchable devices and the electrical properties required for low-voltage, quiet operation, resolving the contradiction between basic functionality and energy efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If stretchable dielectric materials are used to enable mechanical flexibility and stretchability, then the devices can be made conformable and wearable, but mechanical and electrical damage limits their operating lifetimes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates self-healing mechanisms into the dielectric material structure, allowing the material to automatically repair mechanical damage such as cuts and tears. This self-service capability enables the stretchable dielectric to maintain its structural integrity and electrical functionality after mechanical stress, thereby extending the operating lifetime while preserving stretchability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the dielectric material with inherent damage tolerance and self-healing properties that prevent catastrophic failure from mechanical damage. By building this protective capability into the material structure beforehand, the device can withstand mechanical stress and environmental damage without requiring external intervention or replacement, thus improving reliability while maintaining adaptability
3Use of energy by moving object
If high-dielectric-constant particles are added to the elastomer matrix to lower operating voltage, then the dielectric constant increases and luminance improves, but the volume fraction of phosphor particles is reduced which affects luminance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strategically distributes high-dielectric-constant particles and phosphor particles within the elastomer matrix to optimize both electrical and optical performance. By controlling the local arrangement and concentration of these particles, the material achieves high dielectric constant for low-voltage operation while maintaining sufficient phosphor volume fraction for high luminance output
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-component composite material system combining elastomer, high-dielectric-constant ceramic particles, and phosphor particles. This complex composite structure allows simultaneous optimization of electrical properties (for voltage reduction) and optical properties (for luminance maintenance) by leveraging the synergistic effects of different materials working together
4Use of energy by moving object
If BaTiO3 particles are used in a separate dielectric layer to improve permittivity, then the dielectric constant increases, but the emissive light is blocked by opaque BaTiO3 particles resulting in unidirectional emission only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the high-dielectric-constant particles transparent or translucent by selecting appropriate materials and concentrations, allowing light to pass through while maintaining the dielectric enhancement effect. This local quality modification enables the particles to serve dual functions: increasing dielectric constant for low-voltage operation and transmitting light for improved emissivity in multiple directions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a stretchable dielectric material that can operate at low voltages and frequencies, is self-healing, and has improved luminance and durability, suitable for applications in electronic-skins and soft robotics.
Implementation Method 1
A halogen-based elastomer or polymer mixed with a halogen-based surfactant to create a self-healing dielectric material with enhanced dielectric constant
Implementation Method 2
exhibiting electro-mechanical self-healing properties
Implementation Method 3
charges that are injected into the EL materials under high applied electric field in light emitting capacitor (LEC) structures, impact and excite luminescent centres, subsequently resulting in the emission of photons via the radiative relaxation of luminescent centres
Data Source
AI summary
A dielectric material, to a device comprising the dielectric material and to use of the dielectric material in the fabrication of a device. One dielectric material may comprise a halogen-based elastomer mixed with a halogen based surfactant and exhibiting electro-mechanical self-healing properties and/or an increased dielectric constant compared to the halogen-based elastomer. Another dielectric material may comprise a halogen-based polymer mixed with a halogen based surfactant and exhibiting an increased dielectric constant compared to the halogen-based polymer.