Dielectric elastomer actuators with elastomeric electrodes

Abstract

For many applications of dielectric elastomer actuators, it is desirable to replace the carbon-grease electrodes with stretchable, solid-state electrodes. Here, we attach thin layers of a conducting silicone elastomer to prestrained films of an acrylic dielectric elastomer and achieve voltage-actuated areal strains over 70%. The influence of the stiffness of the electrodes and the prestrain of the dielectric films is studied experimentally and theoretically.