Pennsylvania State University Archives - Medical Design Sourcing

Actuation of ferroelectric polymers driven by Joule heating. Credit: Qing Wang.

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University say they developed a new ferroelectric polymer that could convert electrical energy into mechanical strain.

Such a polymer could offer potential for applications in medical devices, advanced robotics and precision positioning systems. The team says that mechanical strain represents an important property for an actuator. Traditionally, these actuator materials were rigid, but soft ones like the ferroelectric polymers offer more flexibility and environmental adaptability.

According to a post on the PSU website, the research showcased the potential for these polymers to overcome the limitations of traditional piezoelectric polymer composites. This could enable soft actuators with enhanced strain performance and mechanical energy density.

“Potentially we can now have a type …

Transmission of 10-nm-thick freestanding films of SrNbO3 and SrVO3. The shaded region labeled UV indicates the spectral range the researchers used to calculate a figure of merit in transmitting UV.

UV radiation in the 200 to 300-nm range (dubbed the UV-C range) can destroy viruses, including the novel coronavirus. The problem is, doing so requires UV radiation sources putting out sufficiently high doses of UV light.

That typically means using a relatively expensive mercury gas discharge lamp. It’s possible to find sources employing LEDs that put out UV-C, but the light they put out is typically weak, too weak to do much good for disinfection purposes. One reason: Their light emission is complicated by the fact that their electrode material must also be transparent to UV-C.

Get the full story on our WTWH Media sister site Power Electronic Tips.

Pennsylvania State University

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It may become easier to disinfect with UV-C LEDs