Remarkable electrically actuation performance in advanced acrylic-based dielectric elastomers without pre-strain at very low driving electric field

Abstract

Most dielectric elastomers (DEs) need high operating electric field (>100 kV/mm) and the essential pre-strains to achieve satisfied actuation, which limits their widespread application. In this work, we prepare a series of high performance DEs using the common acrylate monomers through a versatile method. By adjusting the component of polymers, the advanced DE possess a high actuation coefficient β (51.54 MPa−1) and shows a high actuated strain of 52.08% at a low electric field of 21.57 kV/mm without pre-strain. It is also found that the actuated strain of the c-p (BA-GMA)-3 is almost 4.2 times higher than that of VHB 4910. Furthermore, the advanced DE material is used to fabricate into a bend actuator, which can bend a angel of 180° and show a good electromechanical response. The present work opens a new strategy for designing advanced dielectric elastomers displaying high actuated strain without pre-strain at very low electric field.