Compliant electrode materials for dielectric elastomer actuator

Abstract

In recent years, many materials have been tested and used as complaint electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA). They include conductive grease/powder and thin metallic film. Compliant electrodes are stretchable and conductive at high strains. Plain thin metallic film has been reported to produce low actuation due to stiffness. This created the motivation to study effect of corrugation on thin metallic because the stiffening effect is reduced. Secondly, the effects of electrode materials on actuation and self-healing are studied. Self-healing is the property of the electrode to recover from a breakdown. Self-healing on these electrodes is not yet widely known. Lastly, the effect of pre-stretch on actuation is investigated.