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Nano Research 2022, 15(6): 5376-5383 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3791-3
Research Article | Issue | Published: 29 August 2021

Photo-thermoelectric generator integrated in graphene-based actuator for self-powered sensing function

Show Author's Information Peidi Zhou1,2,3,  Jian Lin1,2,3,  Wei Zhang1,2,3,  Zhiling Luo1,2,3,  Luzhuo Chen1,2,3( )
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Manipulation and New Energy Materials, College of Physics and Energy, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
Fujian Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced High-Field Superconducting Materials and Engineering, Fuzhou 350117, China
Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Solar Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, Fuzhou 350117, China
Keywords:
graphene, self-powered, generator, photo-thermoelectric effect, light-driven actuator
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Zhou P, Lin J, Zhang W, et al. Photo-thermoelectric generator integrated in graphene-based actuator for self-powered sensing function. Nano Research, 2022, 15(6): 5376-5383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3791-3
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Smart actuators integrated with sensing functions are taking a significant role in constructing intelligent robots. However, the detection of sensing signals in most actuators requires external electrical power, lacking in the self-powered feature. Herein, we report a graphene-based light-driven actuator with self-powered sensing function, which is designed by integrating a photo-thermoelectric generator into the actuator intelligently. When one part of the actuator is irradiated by near-infrared light, it shows a deformation with bending curvature up to 1.5 cm−1, owing to the mismatch volume changes between two layers of the actuator. Meanwhile, the temperature difference across the actuator generates a voltage signal due to the photo-thermoelectric effect. The Seebeck coefficient is higher than 40 μV/K. Furthermore, the self-powered voltage signal is consistent with the deformation trend, which can be used to characterize the deformation state of actuator without external electrical power. We further demonstrate a gripper and a bionic hand. Their deformations mimic the motions of human hand (or finger), even making complex gestures. Concurrently, they can output self-powered voltage signals for sensing. We hope this research will pave a new way for self-powered devices, state-of-the-art intelligent robots, and other integrated multi-functional systems.


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About this article

Photo-thermoelectric generator integrated in graphene-based actuator for self-powered sensing function

Show Author's information Peidi Zhou1,2,3, Jian Lin1,2,3, Wei Zhang1,2,3, Zhiling Luo1,2,3, Luzhuo Chen1,2,3( )
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Manipulation and New Energy Materials, College of Physics and Energy, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
Fujian Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced High-Field Superconducting Materials and Engineering, Fuzhou 350117, China
Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Solar Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, Fuzhou 350117, China

Abstract

Smart actuators integrated with sensing functions are taking a significant role in constructing intelligent robots. However, the detection of sensing signals in most actuators requires external electrical power, lacking in the self-powered feature. Herein, we report a graphene-based light-driven actuator with self-powered sensing function, which is designed by integrating a photo-thermoelectric generator into the actuator intelligently. When one part of the actuator is irradiated by near-infrared light, it shows a deformation with bending curvature up to 1.5 cm−1, owing to the mismatch volume changes between two layers of the actuator. Meanwhile, the temperature difference across the actuator generates a voltage signal due to the photo-thermoelectric effect. The Seebeck coefficient is higher than 40 μV/K. Furthermore, the self-powered voltage signal is consistent with the deformation trend, which can be used to characterize the deformation state of actuator without external electrical power. We further demonstrate a gripper and a bionic hand. Their deformations mimic the motions of human hand (or finger), even making complex gestures. Concurrently, they can output self-powered voltage signals for sensing. We hope this research will pave a new way for self-powered devices, state-of-the-art intelligent robots, and other integrated multi-functional systems.

Keywords: graphene, self-powered, generator, photo-thermoelectric effect, light-driven actuator

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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 11 May 2021
Revised: 02 August 2021
Accepted: 03 August 2021
Published: 29 August 2021
Issue date: June 2022

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51773039 and 11974076), Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (No. 2020J02036), and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of Fujian Province (No. J1-1318).

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