Dielectric Elastomer Material Research Articles

Silicone elastomer dielectric composites by introducing novel O-MMT@TiO2 nanoparticles for energy harvesting application

Dielectric elastomers have attracted attention in emerging advanced electromechanical applications. However, how to simultaneously improve the dielectric constant and the breakdown strength of dielectric composite needs to be solved. In this paper, we propose a new strategy to anchor TiO2 nanoparticles onto organically modified montmorillonite (O-MMT) nanoplatelets through dehydration reaction to synthesize a novel filler O-MMT@TiO2. Then, the O-MMT@TiO2 is incorporated into methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVSR) matrix to obtain O-MMT@TiO2/MVSR dielectric composites. Comparing with the composites by direct mixing of TiO2 and O-MMT in MVSR (O-MMT/TiO2/MVSR), O-MMT@TiO2/MVSR composites significantly increase mechanical and dielectric and energy storage properties. 30 wt% O-MMT@TiO2/MVSR composite achieves the highest energy storage density of 118.65 kJ/m3, which is 142.9 % higher than that of 15 wt%O-MMT/15 wt%TiO2/MVSR (48.84 kJ/m3). This study offers an effective method for the preparation of high-performance dielectric elastomer materials, which can be exploited for the energy harvesting application.

Manufacturing of soft capacitive strain sensor based on dielectric elastomer material for an elastic element of a jaw coupling

In this work, we present a procedure for manufacturing a soft capacitive strain sensor in the form of a multi-layer electrical capacitor for further integration into the elastic gear rim of a jaw coupling. The dielectric elastomer sensor (DES) is based on an elastomeric substrate with alternating layers of conductive carbon black based ink as electrode layers and elastomeric film as a dielectric and electrical insulation. A variety of thin multi-layer sensors were produced to evaluate the manufacturing process. Additionally, using an LCR meter and a tensile test machine, the equivalent electrical capacitance (C) at the two sensor contacts and the applied force are measured, respectively. It is shown that C varies depending on the amount of sample strain caused by the applied force. By testing two versions of DES, a maximum change in capacitance of ΔC = 1.55 pF was achieved. The obtained characteristics show that the presented manufacturing process for the DES can be used as a soft strain sensor to measure the strain caused by the force applied to the elastic element between the jaw couplings.

Adaptive Control Method for Conically Shaped Dielectric Elastomer Actuator With Different Loads

In this paper, we present an adaptive control method for a conically shaped dielectric elastomer actuator (CSDEA) with different loads to achieve its tracking control objective. Firstly, a dynamic model of the CSDEA is constructed to describe its asymmetrical, rate-dependent hysteresis behavior and creep behavior simultaneously. Then, an offline parameter identification method based on the nonlinear-least-squares algorithm is presented to obtain the nominal values of the model parameters of the CSDEA corresponding to the load of 200 (g). The obtained values are regarded as the initial values of the adaptive online parameter identification. Next, an adaptive online parameter identification method (AOPIM) based on the least-mean-square algorithm is proposed, which can dynamically calculate and update the model parameter values to cope with the load changing of the CSDEA. Lastly, based on two kinds of analytical inverses of the dynamic model and the proposed AOPIM, two adaptive inverse compensators are respectively designed to realize the tracking control of the CSDEA. The control experiments with different desired trajectories and different loads are implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented adaptive control method. Since the root-mean-square errors of the results of all control experiments are lower than 2.7%, the presented method is remarkable from the perspective of the practical application. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Note to Practitioners</i> —The dielectric elastomer material has beneficial properties of high energy density, low mass density, large deformation, fast response and good biological compatibility. Thus, the soft actuator based on the dielectric elastomer material (SADE) has shown great potentials for being used in soft robots. Nevertheless, the SADE has the complex nonlinear behaviors, which brings a big challenge for its precision control. To deal with this issue, some approaches have been presented in previous literatures. However, the load of the SADE is usually fixed in these studies. This paper focuses on the tracking control of the SADE with different loads. To this end, a dynamic model of the CSDEA is constructed, whose parameter values are dynamically calculated and updated to cope with the load changing of the CSDEA. Through calculating the analytical inverse of the dynamic model, two adaptive inverse compensators are developed. The control experimental results demonstrate that the presented adaptive control method is effective. Considering that the load of the SADE is usually diverse in practical applications, this study pays the way for the application of the SADE.

Excellent dielectric and actuated strain properties in CCTOx@BT(1−x)@KH560/NR system via a tunable BaTiO3 interfacial buffer layer

AbstractDielectric elastomers (DEs) require high drive voltages to obtain large actuated strain, which limits their application in the biological field. In this work, we enhanced the dielectric properties of natural rubber (NR) composites by using core–shell structured (CaCu3Ti4O12)x@(BaTiO3)(1−x) (CCTOx@BT(1−x)) high‐dielectric particles with an buffer layer, and adjusted the thickness of the BT buffer layer by adjusting the addition of titanate during the preparation process, and then observed the relationship between the dielectric properties of NR composites and the thickness of the BT buffer layer. In addition, we modified the CCTO0.75@BT0.25 fillers surface with silane coupling agent KH560 to enhance the interfacial interaction between the inorganic fillers and polymeric matrix to obtain better dispersion and greater dielectric properties. As a result of the optimization of the CCTO0.75@BT0.25@KH560 structure, the actuated strain performance is greatly improved. The actuated strain of 5 per hundred rubber (phr) CCTO0.75@BT0.25@KH560/NR is 16.3% at 74.03 kV/mm, which is 6.52 times higher than the actuated strain obtained by NR (2.5%) at 50.28 kV/mm. This work presents a method to optimize the structure of core–shell fillers by modulating the buffer layer, and provides a new idea for further preparation of dielectric elastomer materials with large actuated strain at low voltage.

Digital Light Processing 3D‐Printed Multilayer Dielectric Elastomer Actuator for Vibrotactile Device

AbstractDielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have emerged as promising components in the field of soft robotics. Multilayer DEAs can enhance the output performance compared to single‐layer DEAs, but the common layer‐by‐layer stacking methods are time‐consuming and likely susceptible to concerns about frequent dielectric breakdown. Herein, the one‐piece multilayer DEAs are directly fabricated via the digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing method, taking advantage of the precise and intricate printed structure. The study also focuses on the adjustable DLP printable resin formulation, aiming to achieve a DLP printed polyurethane acrylate (PUA)‐based dielectric elastomer (DE) material that exhibits desirable characteristics, such as an appropriate dielectric constant, modulus, and minimal hysteresis loss. The non‐pre‐stretch DLP‐printed cylindrical DEA demonstrates a significant blocked force of 270 mN and maintains 45% actuation performance at a frequency of 100 Hz, attributed to both the printed multilayer structure and the optimized formulation of the DE material. Moreover, the feasibility of DLP‐printed DEAs as vibrotactile devices is demonstrated. This work has advanced the development of rapid and efficient fabrication methods of multilayer DEAs using DLP printing, with enhanced force output and attractive applications in robotics and haptic interfaces.

A nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode predictive controller for underwater soft crawling robots with parameter uncertainty

Unknown disturbances and material properties affect the trajectory tracking of underwater soft clawing robots. A nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode predictive controller is proposed to eliminate these effects. To characterize hysteresis and creep in dielectric elastomer materials, a dynamic model incorporating an improved dead-zone operator algorithm is constructed. Meanwhile, a nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode predictive controller that combines the Lie derivative function and sliding mode controller surface is developed to improve the accuracy and robustness of trajectory tracking. Additionally, the dynamic response and convergence speed of the proposed control system are improved by using an adaptive nonlinear disturbance observer to estimate the disturbance and uncertainty terms. Finally, the superiority and effectiveness of the proposed control method are verified by numerical simulations and experiments.

Preparation and characterization of CNTs/CaCu3Ti4O12/silicone rubber composites with improved dielectric and mechanical properties

AbstractThe dielectric performance of Silicone rubber (SR) composites can be significantly enhanced by carbon nanotubes. However, carbon nanotubes are easy to agglomerate in the polymer matrix. Adding low‐dimensional materials of different dimensions may be a solution. In this article, one‐dimensional multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and zero‐dimensional copper calcium titanate (CaCu3Ti4O12, CCTO) ceramic fillers were simultaneously added to prepare silicone dielectric elastomer composites. SEM results showed that the CNTs were distributed uniformly in the SR matrix due to the addition of CCTO. When 2 wt% CNTs and 10 wt% CCTO were added, the dielectric constant of the composite increased from 2.79 (pure silicone rubber) to 5.72, with a low loss tangent of 0.0012. Due to the uniform dispersion of CNTs with the addition of CCTO particles, dielectric performance of the composites were enhanced. The tensile stress was 986 kPa, the elongation at break was 333%, while the elastic modulus was not more than 613 kPa (2 wt% CNTs and 5 wt% CCTO in the SR composite). In addition, the composites had a wide temperature range up to 400°C. Therefore, the prepared CNTs/CCTO/SR composites have good dielectric and mechanical properties, and good thermal stability. It has a good reference value for this kind of composites as dielectric elastomer materials.

Efficient self-repairing high permittivity cyanosilicone dielectric elastomers

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) always suffer from easy damage, cracks, tearing and breakdowns after detrimental events in practical applications. Endowing the DEs materials with self-repairing ability is an effective method to enhance the product reliability and extend the service lifetime. However, the preparation of DEs with ultra-high dielectric permittivity and efficient self-repairing ability is still challenges. Herein, we prepared silicone rubber-based DEs by regulating the carboxyl/amino group ratio and cyano group content in polydimethylsiloxanes and tuning the polymer network structure by introducing the reversible ionically and hydrogen bonds cross-linking. The obtained elastomer materials possess an ultra-high dielectric permittivity (14.38 at 0.1 Hz), low Young's modulus (100–350 kPa), and their mechanical properties can be recovered to over 90% compared to the materials before cutting, exhibit high self-repairing efficiency. Furthermore, the influence mechanism of the network structure on the dielectric properties and efficient self-repairing performance of the silicone elastomers were detailed disclosed. The introduction of polar cyano group enhance the dielectric permittivity and facilitate the self-repairing performance by synergistic effect of the ionic and hydrogen bonds. This work paves the way for preparation of efficient self-repairing dielectric elastomer materials with prominent comprehensive performance.

Effects of effective voltages, electrode types and stretching states on electrical properties and actuation characteristics of dielectric elastomer materials

In this study, the electrical properties of DE materials were systematically tested, and the effects of different effective voltages, electrode types and stretching states on permittivity, dielectric loss, conductivity, capacitance and electrical efficiency were discussed. The frequency dependence of the electric dipole in the material is revealed from the microscopic point of view. Finally, based on the structure and volume incompressibility of the DE, the actuation coefficient of the DE is proposed to characterize its deformation effect. The results show that the permittivity of the DE is very sensitive at high frequency, especially for DE materials with carbon electrode and gold-carbon electrode. At the same effective voltage and gold electrode, the permittivity decreases with the increase of equal biaxial stretching. For the same stretching area, the permittivity of equal biaxial stretching is larger than that of unequal biaxial stretching. The DE with carbon electrode has the largest dielectric loss and is easy to be destroyed in engineering application, which needs further optimization. The dielectric loss decreases with the increase of equal biaxial stretching, which is mainly due to the decrease of orientation deviation between main chain and side chain in DE material. The electric efficiency at low frequency is generally higher than that at high frequency, and the highest electric efficiency can reach 99.64%. With the increase of frequency, the actuation deformation coefficient decreases rapidly. This work will further promote the development of DE materials used in soft robot, and provide a theoretical reference for the design of actuators and sensors.

Investigation on free relaxation process influencing energy harvesting performance of dielectric elastomer generators in intermittent motion

Due to the difference of dielectric elastomer (DE) material properties such as viscosity and conductivity, the existing research results on whether the free relaxation process is introduced into the triangular harvesting scheme to improve the energy harvesting performance of DE generators (DEGs) are completely opposite. In this paper, we quantitatively investigate the performance of DEGs with varied viscosity and conductivity under two types of triangular schemes for converting the intermittent motion. One type is without the free relaxation process and the other includes the free relaxation process. By the comparison of two types of triangular schemes, the results on when to introduce the free relaxation process and how to design the triangular scheme can be achieved. In addition, the effect of the deformation rate during the non-free relaxation process and the transfer capacitor in the energy harvesting circuit on the performance of DEGs is also analyzed. Conclusions can help to select the triangular scheme of DEGs for performance improvement. • A theoretical frame is developed to investigate two types of the triangular energy harvesting schemes. • Introducing free relaxation process into the triangular scheme can improve the energy harvesting performance of DEGs in intermittent motion. • The performance of DEGs with high conductivity and viscosity can be improved by raising the capacitance ratio and decreasing the deformation rate. • The simulation results can provide a guidance for the optimal design of a DEG with the triangular scheme.

Optimization and demonstration of two types of spring-roll dielectric elastomer actuators for minimally invasive surgery.

Resulting from the restricted size of incisions and confined surgical space, the existing rigid and slender minimally invasive surgery (MIS) instruments are inefficient in providing an optimum articulation to handle certain minimally invasive surgery tasks. Thus, developments of novel articulating actuators are of urgent requirement. In this paper, with the aim to enhance the flexibility and maneuverability of surgical instruments in diverse minimally invasive surgery scenarios, two types of spring-roll dielectric elastomer (DE) actuators, namely linear-type and bending-type, are proposed. The actuators’ parameters were optimized and calibrated using a novel step-by-step procedure, based on the characterization and modeling of dielectric elastomer material (VHB 4905). Critical design factors including dimensions of the core spring, the pre-stretch ratio of the dielectric elastomer, and the excitation level of the actuator were identified, while the boundary conditions for the modeling of the actuator were derived from the requirements of minimally invasive surgery applications. The dielectric elastomer actuators’ deformation behavior and force response were analyzed both theoretically and experimentally, and the results from the two approaches were in good agreement. The linear-type actuator could achieve a maximum strain of 29% and a blocking force up to 5.05 N, while the bending-type actuator could achieve angulation over 70° and a blocking force of up to 0.22 N. The proposed actuators are lightweight, compact, and cost-effective, which could provide novel design inspiration for minimally invasive surgery instruments.

How do electromechanical properties of dielectric elastomer composites influence their energy harvesting performances?

Dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) can harvest energy by converting mechanical energy from natural movement into electrical energy. Despite of many studies on improving the energy harvesting performances of DEG by the design of dielectric elastomer (DE) materials, how do the electromechanical properties such as dielectric constant (ε) and elastic modulus (Y) of DE materials affect their energy harvesting performances is still unclear. In this study, we purposefully designed and prepared two sets of brominated isobutylene isoprene rubber (BIIR) based DE materials, one set with almost the same ε but different Y and the other set with almost the same Y but different ε. And the effect of the single electromechanical property (ε or Y) on the energy harvesting performances of DEG under the cone stretching mode was revealed for the first time. In a single energy generating cycle, the generated energy and energy density are basically independent of Y, but interestingly, they sharply increase as the ε increases. Under the premise of high cone stretch displacement, DE with higher ε and lower Y has a higher electromechanical conversion efficiency. The “amplification effect” of actual generated energy with the increase in ε is quantitatively analyzed by considering the existence of charge leakage, the introduction of transfer capacitor, and the non-uniform stretching of DE film. This study provides a guidance for designing and optimizing DE materials with high energy harvesting performances.

Nano-Silica/Polydimethyl(methylvinyl)siloxane dielectric elastomer generator with high generating energy density, high efficiency and long fatigue life

Dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) can easily realize the energy harvesting from nature motion sources such as waves and human movements. Up to now, the bottleneck of the development of DEG is the lack of dielectric elastomer (DE) material with excellent dielectric properties and long fatigue life, restricting the practical application of DEG. In this study, a kind of nano-silica (SiO2) with strong interfacial polarizability was introduced into polydimethyl(methylvinyl)siloxane (PMVS) matrix to enhance its permittivity. The results show that the increase of permittivity of PMVS by adding SiO2 is five times that by adding traditional ceramic filler, and all these composites maintain high insulation. After the grafting of a coupling agent (CA) on SiO2 (CA@SiO2), the co-crosslinking reaction between CA@SiO2 and PMVS can occur, leading to the large enhancement of the interfacial interaction and thus the improvement of both breakdown strength and fatigue life of the CA@SiO2/PMVS composites. The as-prepared unprestretched DE composite was then used as DE substrate for cone DEG, and an up-to-date highest generating energy density (47.9 mJ/g) and conversion efficiency (32.3%) were achieved. More importantly, the as-prepared DEG exhibits long fatigue life of over 50,000 cycles and its full-life generating energy density reaches over 2,000 J/g, approximately 290 times higher than that using the most widely used VHB material based DEG. By combining atomic force microscopy, the finite element analysis and experimental results, the mechanism why enhancing the interface interaction can improve the energy harvesting performance and fatigue life of DEG is revealed.

Calculation method for the dielectric constant of thioglycolic acid grafted modified SBS dielectric elastomer

Nonpolar/polar block copolymer materials can be used to develop high-performance dielectric elastomer materials. At present, there is no method to accurately predict its dielectric constant, which is not conducive to improving related research and development efficiency. For this, styrene–butadienestyrene triblock copolymer (SBS) block copolymer grafted modified by thioglycolic acid (TGA) is chosen as the research object. We propose a hybrid calculation method combining the group contribution method, the connectivity index method, and the dipole moment fluctuation method. The connectivity index method and the dipole moment fluctuation method calculate the dielectric constants of nonpolar and polar repeat units to provide accurate basic data for the group contribution method. In the calculation process, the Vogel model completes the mutual conversion between dielectric constant and molar polarizability. Both theoretical calculation and experimental verification show that the dielectric constant of SBS-TGA increases with the grafting rate. We found the correlation between theoretical calculations and experimental values and confirmed that the applicable frequency range of this method is 1 kHz–1000 kHz. This method can be extended to predict the dielectric constant of other polymers and improve development efficiency.

Electrostatic model of dielectric elastomer generator based on finite element

When dielectric elastomer materials are used for power generation, bias voltage is applied at both ends of dielectric elastomer film, and there are equal amounts of heterogeneous charges on both sides of the film, so Maxwell electrostatic force is always coupled in the process of power generation. In order to investigate the distribution of Maxwell stress in dielectric elastomer material under electric field, the electrostatic model of dielectric elastomer generator is established in COMSOL finite element simulation software environment in this paper. The distribution of electrostatic force is studied from two aspects of theoretical derivation and simulation, and the magnitude and direction of electrostatic force are determined. The simulation results show that the Maxwell electrostatic force can be equivalent to the tensile force along the film plane and the extrusion force perpendicular to the plane, and they are the same.

Preparation and Characterization of CCTO/PDMS Dielectric Elastomers with High Dielectric Constant and Low Dielectric Loss.

Dielectric elastomer (DE) is a type of electric field type electroactive polymer material that can produce greater deformation under the action of an electric field and has a faster recovery speed. It has the advantages of high energy density, large strain, low quality, and commercialization, and has become the most widely concerned and researched electroactive polymer material. In this study, copper calcium titanate (CCTO) particles with a large dielectric constant were selected as the filling phase, and a silicone rubber (PDMS) with better biocompatibility and lower elastic modulus was used as the matrix to prepare CCTO/PDMS, which is a new type of dielectric elastomer material. The structure of the dielectric elastomer is analyzed, and its mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and driving deformation are tested. Then, KH550, KH560, and KH570 modified CCTO is used in order to improve the dispersibility of CCTO in PDMS, and modified particles with the best dispersion effect are selected to prepare dielectric elastomer materials. In addition, mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and driving deformation are tested and compared with the dielectric elastomer material before modification. The results show that as the content of CCTO increases, the dielectric constant and elastic modulus of the dielectric elastomer also increase, and the dielectric loss remains basically unchanged at a frequency of 100 Hz. When the filling amount reaches 20 wt%, the dielectric constant of the CCTO/PDMS dielectric elastomer reaches 5.8 (100 Hz), an increase of 120%, while the dielectric loss at this time is only 0.0038 and the elastic modulus is only 0.54 MPa. When the filling amount is 5 wt%, the dielectric elastomer has the largest driving deformation amount, reaching 33.8%. Three silane coupling agents have been successfully grafted onto the surface of CCTO particles, and the KH560 modified CCTO has the best dispersibility in the PDMS matrix. Based on this, a modified CCTO/PDMS dielectric elastomer was prepared. The results show that the improvement of dispersibility improves the dielectric constant. Compared with the unmodified PDMS, when the filling content is 20 wt%, the dielectric constant reaches 6.5 (100 Hz). Compared with PDMS, it has increased by 150%. However, the improvement of dispersion has a greater increase in the elastic modulus, resulting in a decrease in its strain parameters compared with CCTO/PDMS dielectric elastomers, and the electromechanical conversion efficiency has not been significantly improved. When the filling amount of modified CCTO particles is 5 wt%, the dielectric elastomer has the largest driving deformation, reaching 27.4%.

Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench.

The deep sea remains the largest unknown territory on Earth because it is so difficult to explore1-4. Owing to the extremely high pressure in the deep sea, rigid vessels5-7 and pressure-compensation systems8-10 are typically required to protect mechatronic systems. However, deep-sea creatures that lack bulky or heavy pressure-tolerant systems can thrive at extreme depths11-17. Here, inspired by the structure of a deep-sea snailfish15, we develop an untethered soft robot for deep-sea exploration, with onboard power, control and actuation protected from pressure by integrating electronics in a silicone matrix. This self-powered robot eliminates the requirement for any rigid vessel. To reduce shear stress at the interfaces between electronic components, we decentralize the electronics by increasing the distance between components or separating them from the printed circuit board. Careful design of the dielectric elastomer material used for the robot's flapping fins allowed the robot to be actuated successfully in a field test in the Mariana Trench down to a depth of 10,900metres and to swim freely in the South China Sea at a depth of 3,224metres. We validate the pressure resilience of the electronic components and soft actuators through systematic experiments and theoretical analyses. Our work highlights the potential of designing soft, lightweight devices for use in extreme conditions.

Thermoelectromechanical instability of dielectric elastomer undergoes polarization saturation and temperature variation

When the electric field caused by voltage reaches a certain level, the charge on the compliant electrodes will not increase owing to the polarization saturation, which would limit the deformation of the dielectric elastomer. Some experiments show that temperature also has a significant effect on the deformation of dielectric elastomer. In this work, a free energy model coupling temperature and polarization saturation is developed to characterize the thermoelectromechanical instability of dielectric elastomer. The results reveal that both the polarization saturation parameters and electric field have a significant influence on the actuation ability of the dielectric elastomer, and the increase of temperature enhances thermoelectromechanical stability. It is hoped that this work could guide the development of dielectric elastomer materials and application devices operating in variable temperatures.

Rapid Fabrication Method for Soft Devices Using Off‐the‐Shelf Conductive and Dielectric Acrylic Elastomers

Herein, a method to fabricate soft and stretchable devices rapidly by using only commercially available conductive and dielectric elastomer materials with the aid of laser cutting and a layer‐by‐layer process is presented. The conductive acrylic elastomer is first characterized in terms of its mechanical and electrical characteristics and then applied to various devices, such as soft electrostatic actuators, strain sensors, and stretchable pumps. These devices, which can be fabricated within 15–30 min, exhibit areal actuated strains of up to 163.0 ± 1.0% at 4 kV in the actuators, a highly linear response (R2 = 0.995) for strains of up to 100% with a gauge factor of 0.98 in the sensors, and an output pressure of 0.11 ± 0.08 kPa and flow rate of 20 ± 4 μL s−1 at 7 kV in the pumps. These performance characteristics are comparable to those reported in the literature. To demonstrate the potential for soft robotic applications, a wearable device is developed (fabrication time of ≈15 min), which exhibits multiple functionalities, such as detection of deformations of a human finger, haptic presentation through vibration, and electroadhesion. The results illustrate the high applicability of the presented strategy in soft intelligent systems.

Study on the bio-inspired electrochromic device enabled via dielectric elastomer actuator

Abstract As a promising research field, electrochromic devices have attracted researcher's attention because of their dynamic display capabilities, high brightness, and convenience of electric signals. Among all the electrochromic modes, the use of electroactive actuators to produce color change is one of the important means. In view of the characteristics of dielectric elastomer (DE) materials such as rapid response and large deformation under electric signal, dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) were prepared and explored for their applications in biomedicine, aerospace, intelligent robotics and other fields. In this paper, inspired by the skin of chameleons, a kind of electrochromic device enabled via dielectric elastomer actuator (EDDEA) is prepared by integrating the stretchable photonic crystals (SPCs) with DEAs. The SPCs can achieve color changes in visible light range and maintain stable performance during multiple working cycles. The prepared EDDEA can produce strain under an electric field, which in turn causes color changes. In addition, the EDDEA can be used to display and measure the strain range of the DEA during actuating process under the excitation of electric field. The results demonstrate that the prepared EDDEA is a fully flexible, highly integrated electrochromic device, which can produce a wide range of color change under electric field. Meanwhile, this device provides potential application value in the strain range control of DEAs.