An energy harvester based on UV-polymerized short-alkyl-chain-modified [DBU][TFSI] ionic liquid electrets

Abstract

Three short-alkyl-chain-modified [DBU][TFSI] ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized and utilized in electrets. The electrets were prepared by mixing a UV-curable polymer with the ionic liquids followed by polymerization while applying an external electric field, thus forming spatially separated anions and cations in the proximity of opposing surfaces of the composite slabs. The immobilized surplus surface charge was measured by periodically engaging the electret with a metal counter electrode plate and detecting the displacement current using a charge amplifier. The results show that electrets based on polymerized [DBU][TFSI] ILs have a separated surface charge density of up to 64 nC × cm⁻², which equals an energy harvesting density of 7.0 nJ × cm⁻². Control measurements repeated after a few days to assess the stability and reproducibility of the systems showed that while charge separation reverses over time to some extent, the polymerized ionic liquid samples are resilient to exposure to atmospheric conditions and could be utilized in this type of energy harvesting scheme.