Principles of Static and Dynamic Flexoelectricity in Viscoelastic Solid Polymer Electrolyte Membranes*

Inspired by the basic principles of bioelectricity and signal transmission in neurons, a multilayer laminate consisting of flexible solid polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) and flexible carbonaceous electrodes has been fabricated. The laminated PEM generates electrical voltage/current via ion shuttling or pumping during PEM bending/flexing and therefore may be used for harvesting energy from wind and tidal waves. Flexoelectricity operates based on the principle of ‘bending’ piezoelectricity, wherein electricity is produced via ion polarization during mechanical deformation. To determine the flexoelectric property of the PEM system, a unique experimental setup has been designed by combining dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and Solartron Potentiostat/Galvanostat. DMA serves as an actuator for cantilever bending/flexing of the PEM sample, whereas Solartron instrument monitors the electrical energy output. The flexoelectric coefficient, ion polarization density, and electrical energy output have been determined under static and dynamic oscillatory flexing modes and subsequently flexoelectric principles of viscoelastic PEMs will be discussed.