Theoretical and experimental analysis on deflection control of photovoltaic-electrostatic cantilever beam

Abstract

A model of photovoltaic-electrostatic cantilever beam based on lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate ceramic is proposed in this article. New equivalent electrical model of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate ceramic connected to a parallel plate composed of two copper foils is obtained by modifying the original lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate equivalent electrical model. After that, the mathematical model of photovoltaic-electrostatic cantilever beam is established. Furthermore, the influences of ultraviolet light intensity and copper foil length on the deflection of the photovoltaic-electrostatic cantilever beam are analyzed via the theoretical and experimental methods. The analysis results indicate that the deflection at the free end of cantilever beam increases with the increase in light intensity and length of the copper foil. The photovoltaic-electrostatic flexible cantilever beam can be taken as a micro-actuator with the advantages of remote control and clean drive.