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Direct Sun-Driven Artificial Heliotropism for Solar Energy Harvesting Based on a Photo-Thermomechanical Liquid-Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposite

  1. Chensha Li1,
  2. Ye Liu1,
  3. Xuezhen Huang1,
  4. Hongrui Jiang1,2,*

Article first published online: 1 AUG 2012

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201202038

Issue

Advanced Functional Materials

Advanced Functional Materials

Volume 22, Issue 24, pages 5166–5174, December 19, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Li, C., Liu, Y., Huang, X. and Jiang, H. (2012), Direct Sun-Driven Artificial Heliotropism for Solar Energy Harvesting Based on a Photo-Thermomechanical Liquid-Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposite. Adv. Funct. Mater., 22: 5166–5174. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201202038

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

  2. 2

    Materials Science Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

*Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 DEC 2012
  2. Article first published online: 1 AUG 2012
  3. Manuscript Revised: 15 JUL 2012
  4. Manuscript Received: 12 JUN 2012

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Keywords:

  • artificial heliotropism;
  • solar energy harvesting;
  • photo-thermomechanical actuation;
  • liquid-crystal elastomers;
  • nanocomposites

Abstract

Inspired by heliotropism in nature, artificial heliotropic devices that can follow the sun for increased light interception are realized. The mechanism of the artificial heliotropism is realized via direct actuation by the sunlight, eliminating the need for additional mechatronic components and resultant energy consumption. For this purpose, a novel reversible photo-thermomechanical liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) nanocomposite is developed that can be directly driven by natural sunlight and possesses strong actuation capability. Using the LCE nanocomposite actuators, the artificial heliotropic devices show full-range heliotropism in both laboratory and in-field tests. As a result, significant increase in the photocurrent output from the solar cells in the artificial heliotropic devices is observed.

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