Their operation relies on the variable electrostatic capacitor principle. By leveraging on an electrostatic variable-capacitance principle, they can pursue different operation modes, such as actuators, generators, and sensors.

DE transducers were conceived at the end of past century. Īmong them, the class of DE generators (DEGs) represents a promising alternative. Toward this aim, several novel mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion principles have been studied and demonstrated in the form of generators based on linear electromagnetic devices, triboelectric materials, pyroelectric, reverse electrowetting, carbon nanotube yarns, and dielectric elastomers (DEs). These include the vibration of structures, relative motion between machine components, human motion, and natural sources of energy such as waves or wind. In particular, novel energy conversion devices have been conceived with the aim of improving electricity generation from nonsteady sources of power that are associated with oscillating/time-varying forces and motions. These new requirements have pushed researchers to conceive solutions to scavenge forms of mechanical energy in conditions where conventional electromechanical generators struggle to excel. On the other hand and on the large scale, there is a growing demand of grid electricity which should be produced starting from novel sustainable/renewable energy resources.

On the one hand, there is a need of electricity sources in the small-scale range to provide or extend the power supply for emerging devices such as wireless, portable, wearable, implantable electronics, or distributed sensing/monitoring systems. However, in the past decades, the demand and the type of use of electrical power has gone through significant changes, bringing new needs and challenges. The technology used to achieve the conversion of available mechanical energy into usable electricity has been vastly dominated by electromagnetic systems based on Lorentz force or variable inductance.

The Mars Strain by A.C. Anderson