Highly Efficient Mechanoelectrical Energy Conversion Based on the Near‐Tip Stress Field of an Antifracture Slit Observed in Scorpions. (25th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Kejun; Zhang, Junqiu; Song, Honglie; Fang, Yuqiang; Wang, Xiaolong; Chen, Daobing; Liu, Linpeng; Niu, Shichao; Yao, Zhongwen; Han, Zhiwu; Ren, Luquan
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 29:Number 22(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-02-25
• Subjects: biomimetic materials -- mechanical energy harvesting -- mechanoelectrical transducing microsystems -- near‐tip stress field -- slit‐based mechanoreceptor; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201807693
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: In the field of engineering, a crack, inducing enormous mechanical energy concentration at a tip, is considered a typical kind of defect. However, it is found that, to maximize the sensitivity of slit‐based mechanoreceptors, the near‐tip stress field of "risky" crack‐shaped slits is ingeniously used by scorpions to precisely detect the cyclic loads acting on walking legs without the crack nucleation from the flaw‐like tip. As a sophisticated biological mechanoelectrical transducing microsystem, the mechanoreceptor can effectively collect mechanical energy contained in the mechanical signal through antifracture slit allays and then convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy through mechanosensory neuron. The highly efficient mechanoelectrical energy conversion mechanism is theoretically analyzed and experimentally verified in a bioinspired artificial mechanoreceptor. The results demonstrate the potential of basic "design" principles, underlying the slit‐dependent mechanoreceptor, for maximizing the electromechanical conversion efficiency of the industrial mechanoelectrical transducing microsystem such as nanogenerators, ultrasensitive mechanical sensors, self‐powered portable, and wearable electronics. Abstract : A bioinspired strategy of achieving highly efficient mechanoelectrical energy conversion is provided. This work reveals that the near‐tip stress field of a "risky" slit is ingeniously used by scorpions to precisely detect mechanical signals without the crack nucleation from flaw‐like tips. The highly efficient mechanoelectrical energy conversion mechanism is theoretically analyzed and experimentally verified in a bioinspired artificial mechanoreceptor.