dielectric elastomers

Dear colleagues,

We invite you to see the preprint of our new paper "Statistical mechanics of a dielectric polymer chain in the force ensemble" that will appear in Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. Here we compute the electroelasticity of single polymer chains using both analytical approximations and novel MCMC techniques. Working in the fixed force ensemble facilitates the derivation of the analytical approximations, which are shown to agree well with the MCMC results. This work complements prior work on the statistical mechanics of dielectric polymers chains obtained in a different ensemble. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2021.104658).

Dear colleagues,

We invite you to see the preprint of our new paper "Nonlinear statistical mechanics drives intrinsic electrostriction and volumetric torque in polymer networks" that will appear in Physical Review E. Here we use a nonlinear statistical mechanics approach to the electroelasticity of dielectric polymer chains and obtain a two-way coupling between chain deformation and dielectric response. This two-way coupling leads to electrically induced stresses and volumetric torques within an elastomer network which can be leveraged to develop higher efficiency soft actuators, electroactive materials, and novel electromechanical mechanisms. (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.103.042504).

Dear Colleagues,

This is the preprint of an article on the design of elastomer networks for optimal electromechanical response that will appear in JMPS. We explore how various structural properties of an elastomer network (e.g. density of cross-links, fraction of loose-end monomers, orientation density of chains, etc.) affects both its bulk elastic and dielectric properties, and its performance as an actuator. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2020.104171).

The Cai Soft Biomatter Laboratory (http://softbiomatter.org/) at the University of Virginia is seeking to fill a Postdoctoral Researcher position in 3D printing of soft biomaterials. The project consists of two core areas: (1) materials innovation and (2) technology development. The successful candidate will develop new soft materials as inks for 3D printing, and use customized 3D printing technologies to transform the materials to adaptive structures for photonic and biomedical applications.

Recent theoretical works have shown that the electro-mechanical performance of dielectric elastomers can be enhanced through micro-structural design.

A cantilever beam with elastic hinge pulled antagonistically by two dielectric elastomer (DE) membranes in tension forms a foldable actuator if one DE membrane is subject to a voltage and releases part of tension. Simply placing parallel rigid bars on the prestressed DE membranes results in enhanced actuators working in pure shear state. We report design, analysis, fabrication and experiment of soft mobile robots that are moved by such foldable DE actuators.