Self-powered sensing of tensile strain using multifunctional mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic composites
AssigneeNew Mexico Tech University Research Park Corporation
InventorDonghyeon RYU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a composition and a method for energy harvesting and the autonomous detection of structural failure. This method can be used to monitor, for example, the structural integrity of unmanned aircraft systems.
Claims19
1-17. (canceled)
A method comprising:
- a) forming a structure by depositing a conductive sheet onto a first face of an elastomer;
- b) depositing a mechano-optoelectronic film onto the conductive sheet, so that the conductive sheet is between the elastomer and the mechano-optoelectronic film;
- c) connecting a mechano-luminescent elastomeric substrate to a second face of the elastomer, to provide a mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic composite;
- and
- d) layering the mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic composite between a first layer of the structure and a second layer of the structure, wherein the mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic composite is connected to the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first layer is a fiber-reinforced polymer, and the second layer is a fiber-reinforced polymer.
The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting delamination of the structure based on a measurement of the direct current produced by the structure.
The method of claim 1, further comprising harvesting energy by collecting direct current electricity produced by the structure.
(canceled)
A method of producing an autonomous structural composite, the method comprising:
- a) depositing a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate sheet onto a first face of a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer that is pre-strained to about 20% to about 25%,
- b) depositing a poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester film onto the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate sheet so that the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate sheet is between the poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester film and the polydimethylsiloxane elastomer,
- c) connecting a ZnS:Cu/polydimethylsiloxane composite that contains about 70% ZnS:Cu by weight to a second face of the elastomer to form a mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic composite;
- and
- d) layering the mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic composite between a first layer and a second layer, wherein the mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic composite is connected to the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first layer is a fiber-reinforced polymer, and the second layer is a fiber-reinforced polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.