Reconfigurable Shape-Morphing Dielectric Elastomers Using Spatially Varying Electric Fields

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel layer-by-layer fabrication method to enable shape-morphing in dielectric elastomers by applying spatially varying electric fields, allowing reversible and tunable Gaussian curvature changes for advanced soft actuators.

Contribution

It presents a new method for reconfigurable shape morphing in dielectric elastomers using internal, spatially varying electric fields with shaped electrodes, overcoming previous limitations.

Findings

Produced voltage-tunable negative and positive Gaussian curvature shapes.

Shapes can be reconfigured by applying voltages to different internal electrodes.

Shape changes are reversible upon voltage removal.

Abstract

Exceptionally large strains can be produced in soft elastomers by the application of an electric field and the strains can be exploited for a variety of novel actuators, such as tunable lenses and tactile actuators. However, shape morphing with dielectric elastomers has not been possible since no generalizable method for changing their Gaussian curvature has been devised. It is shown that this fundamental limitation can be lifted by introducing internal, spatially varying electric fields through a layer-by-layer fabrication method incorporating shaped, carbon-nanotubes-based electrodes between thin elastomer sheets. To illustrate the potential of the method, voltage-tunable negative and positive Gaussian curvatures shapes are produced. Furthermore, by applying voltages to different sets of internal electrodes, the shapes can be re-configured. All the shape changes are reversible when the voltage is removed.